UEFA's Ceferin says Infantino could face election challenger, rules out FIFA bid

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running for the FIFA presidency, stating he loves his current role and wishes to "enjoy life a bit." However, he anticipates that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will likely face an opponent in the upcoming March elections, especially following a backlash over a proposed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Ceferin believes Infantino's credibility would be higher if he were not interested in the position, suggesting that the FIFA president might realize he lacks sufficient support from the football community, fans, and players if he decides to stand again.

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One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point you have also, I mean, it's time also to enjoy life a bit.

Ceferin did not mince words in his criticism of Infantino's abandoned investment proposal, deeming it a greater threat to football than the European Super League. "Football would be literally sold," he stated, emphasizing the severity of the plan. He revealed that he had no contact with Infantino since the controversy erupted and noted that UEFA's 55 member federations reacted with anger to the proposal's details. Ceferin pushed back against suggestions that opposition to the plan was confined to Europe's wealthiest associations, citing rejections from smaller nations like San Marino, Cyprus, and Liechtenstein.

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Let's see till when. And the second point is, my credibility is much, much, much higher if I'm not interested in the position.

Challenging the narrative that Europe is obstructing efforts to aid poorer football nations, Ceferin accused unnamed parties of attempting to portray UEFA as an entitled elite. He pointed out that Infantino himself is European and was initially supported by UEFA, a fact he believes Infantino has forgotten. Ceferin also confirmed that neither he nor UEFA were informed about the investment proposal or a separate FIFA Peace Prize awarded to U.S. President Donald Trump before they became public knowledge. Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment on Ceferin's remarks.

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There are two options. One option is that he realises that he doesn't have the support, and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches.