Infantino secures over 200 endorsements, set for landslide re-election as FIFA president

Published Jul 17, 01:43 PM UTC

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received formal endorsements from over 200 of the 211 member associations, positioning him for a landslide re-election at the March congress. According to The Guardian, only a few European nations, notably the German Football Association, have yet to submit letters of support. Despite controversies including Donald Trump's lobbying over a red card for US striker Folarin Balogun and the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Al-Tan, Infantino remains the sole candidate. Some associations report internal pressure to confirm support, which is theoretically prohibited by FIFA's ethics code. European efforts to field a challenger have gained informal traction but lack consensus. UEFA has taken a clear stance against FIFA on several issues, but it is unclear if it will formally back a competitor. The upcoming FIFA meeting in New York is expected to focus on World Cup finances and revenue distribution rather than recent controversies.