Infantino lobbies for re-election

The Fifa president is campaigning globally for support ahead of the March election, using a private jet provided by Qatar Airways as part of a sponsorship deal.

World Cup sell-off plan abandoned

Fifa scrapped its controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise plan last month after dozens of member associations withdrew their endorsements following the July announcement.

No challengers have emerged

Despite calls from Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation for Infantino to step down, no one has declared as a candidate to oppose him.

Incumbency advantage is huge

Infantino controls Fifa's machinery, funding budgets, staff and resources. Running against him means effectively running against the institution itself.

“As long as Gianni is running, I don't think anyone else will raise their hand. They would effectively be running against Fifa the institution.”

Victor Montagliani won't challenge

Concacaf's president is the most credible potential challenger but is committed to his own confederation re-election in February and won't abandon that role.

Other candidates face obstacles

The AFC president was beaten by Infantino in 2016 and lacks support from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. A European candidate would have no chance.

Secret ballot undermines promises

Elections use secret ballots, making campaign promises from member associations worthless. This makes defeating Infantino even harder.

Uefa pursues legal action instead

Unable to find an electoral challenger, Uefa filed a 56-page legal complaint accusing Infantino of criminal mismanagement over the FFE deal.

FFE valued at $20 billion

Uefa suspects Fifa deliberately undervalued the Fifa Forward Enterprise at $20 billion to benefit Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital, which agreed to pay $4.2 billion for 21 percent.

Thrive's Lakers deal raises questions

Thrive Capital bought 20 percent of the LA Lakers for $12.5 billion last month, suggesting the FFE valuation was far too low.

Fifa revenues growing significantly

Fifa earned $15 billion over four years to 2026 and projects $18 billion for the next cycle, without accounting for World Cup expansion.

Undervaluation could be criminal

A corporate fraud lawyer says undervaluing FFE could constitute a criminal offense by deceiving member associations, a case Uefa could take to Swiss courts.

“If you're doing a deal that is way off market then you are deceiving the stakeholders, in this case the member associations. That is criminal.”

Discovery process will take time

Courts are expected to grant discovery next month, but Fifa can appeal, meaning new evidence likely won't emerge before the March election.

Infantino's fourth term is permitted

Fifa statutes limit presidents to three full terms, but Infantino's first term lasted three years instead of four, allowing him a fourth term.

Uefa and Concacaf demand payments

The two confederations jointly demanded Fifa release $10 million to each of its 211 member associations from its $6 billion reserves during the next cycle.

Infantino commissioned governance review

Infantino agreed to Uefa's demand for an external governance review and communicated this in a letter to member associations this week.

Blatter's fate offers hope

Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter was forced to resign in 2015 just days after winning re-election amid an FBI corruption investigation.

“Look what happened to Blatter. He was re-elected in May 2015, but was gone in June.”

Fight continues beyond election

Uefa and Concacaf are committed to a long-term battle against Infantino, viewing the election as just one phase of a larger struggle.

“This is a fight to the death now and we have to keep going.”