North American football chief Victor Montagliani is “making moves” to run for the Fifa presidency against Gianni Infantino.
Having looked immovable only a few days ago, Infantino faces the first real threat to his reign with a credible candidate to oppose the under-fire supremo preparing to step forward.
Two sources close to the matter have told The i Paper that Canadian Montagliani – president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean association (Concacaf) – is set to challenge Infantino in the elections next March.
Infantino was planning to run for the presidency unopposed, as is often the case in Fifa elections. He did so in 2019 and 2023.
Victor Montagliani consoles Lionel Messi after the World Cup final (Photo: Getty)But the extraordinary reaction to plans to raise over $4bn (£3bn) by selling off part of the World Cup to private investors, including Uefa’s proposed boycott of football’s showpiece event, has caused a major shift in support.
Concacaf became the latest association to unanimously reject Infantino’s plan on Thursday, before the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) followed suit.
A source with knowledge of Concacaf’s meeting told The i Paper that not only was there blanket condemnation for the proposal, “the sentiment and discussion expressed among the vast majority of Concacaf members is that they are losing confidence, or have lost confidence, in the ability of Gianni Infantino as Fifa president moving forward”.
PSG president has ‘no interest in Fifa role’
Several influential figures within European football had hoped that Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi would stand against Infantino.
The Qatari government official and businessman is already embroiled in the world of football governance, as the chairman of European Football Clubs (EFC, previously known as the European Club Association) and an executive committee member of Uefa.
President Gianni Infantino and Nasser Al-Khelaifi (Photo: Getty)The i Paper has been told, however, that the 52-year-old is not interested in the role: “Mr Al-Khelaifi has absolutely no ambition, no intention and no interest in the Fifa role and all this media noise, and instead will continue to quietly and constructively support all the institutions of world and European football,” a spokesperson for Al-Khelaifi said.
Another not understood to be interested is the man who quickly kicked off the condemnation, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin. It is also unclear whether the Slovenian would have the supporter to mount a presidential challenge.
Who is Montagliani? And can he win?
Sources familiar with the matter insisted Montagliani retains much more backing across the world.
Montagliani is a long-standing ally of Infantino and is one of eight current Fifa Vice-Presidents. He became the first non-Caribbean Concacaf president since 1969 to be appointed in the aftermath of the corruption scandal in 2015.
It was not thought candidacy for the next election was on the 60-year-old’s radar, with Infantino described as “home and dry” for another term. It was more likely Montagliani would target the following campaign in 2031 and run for re-election in his region instead.
Having delivered a largely successful North American World Cup this summer, however, the Canadian is now at the peak of his powers, in an ideal position to overthrow a figure who is doing his best to dissuade the entire footballing world of his legitimacy.
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Fifa and Infantino have doubled down on their plans in a convoluted statement on Friday, vowing to press ahead with an “open and democratic” consultation on the proposals.
“Nobody is selling football,” the world governing body said. “This is not something FIFA would ever entertain. We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.”
The AFC, who are crucial for Infantino if he is to stay on for another four years after the next election, expressed concern that the Fifa proposal was made public before all 211 member associations were fully consulted. Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro has also resigned in protest.
The next Fifa presidential election will take place in Morocco. Currently Infantino is the only declared candidate. The deadline for others to come forward is November 18.
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