The Fifa crisis has led to speculation about the future of Gianni Infantino as president, with some naming Nasser Al-Khelaifi as a potential challenger. However, according to his camp, Al-Khelaifi has no interest in leading a coup against Infantino.
Infantino’s position has been weakened by plans to sell off stakes in a new commercial subsidiary to private investors, including Donald Trump’s extended family. A key advisor quit in protest, calling the proposals “troubling” and “a bad deal for football”.
Al-Khelaifi, the Paris Saint-Germain president and high-ranking Uefa executive, placed second in City AM’s Football Power List last month, behind only Infantino. He has been touted as a potential challenger due to his credentials and ability to unite European and Asian stakeholders.
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Sources close to Al-Khelaifi insist he has “zero interest” in becoming Fifa president, despite his potential ability to lead. Friends added that he enjoys his current lifestyle and had not spoken out against Fifa personally to avoid encouraging the impression he wants the top job.
A spokesperson reiterated that Al-Khelaifi has “absolutely no ambition, no intention and no interest” in the Fifa role and will continue to support world and European football institutions.
Al-Khelaifi remains one of the most credible candidates should Europe decide to put forward a challenge to Infantino at the next Fifa elections. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is another obvious European contender, but he has been absent from his organisation’s criticism of Fifa.
Beyond Europe, other potential Infantino successors include Asian chief Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, African boss Patrice Motsepe, and Canadian Victor Montagliani. The Asian Football Confederation has issued thinly veiled criticism of Infantino’s conduct, calling for an urgent review of Fifa’s governance and decision-making framework.
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The AFC has also said it “stands in solidarity” with Uefa after all 55 European member nations backed a boycott of the World Cup and other Fifa events unless it shelves plans for the sell-off of stakes in the new company, Fifa Forward Enterprise.
Infantino’s senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro deepened the crisis at Fifa by announcing his resignation, stating that “decisions of this magnitude should be made in the interests of football, not those who stand to profit from it”.
As the crisis continues to unfold, the situation will become increasingly complex, with various stakeholders vying for influence. The outcome of the next Fifa elections will be closely watched, and it remains to be seen whether Al-Khelaifi or another candidate will emerge as a challenger to Infantino.