Lise Klaveness, the head of the Norwegian Football Association, has moved to dampen speculation that she might run for the FIFA presidency. While the current president, Gianni Infantino, faces significant political pressure, Klaveness insists that discussions about a successor are premature. She emphasized that the focus remains on the sitting administration rather than on future campaigns.
Infantino is currently fighting to retain his position following a severe backlash against his proposal to sell off commercial rights to the World Cup through a new private entity. The secret nature of this plan has drawn criticism from several regional confederations, putting his leadership style under intense scrutiny.
Infantino’s Leadership Under Fire
The governing bodies representing Europe, Asia, and North and Central America have all signaled a loss of confidence in his leadership. Despite this unrest, no official challenger has stepped forward to oppose him. Infantino is currently set to be re-elected unopposed next year, assuming he avoids being forced out before the vote takes place.
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Klaveness addressed the rumors directly, stating that the media’s job is to speculate, but internal realities are different. “As of now, we have a sitting president who is still sitting, and that is what we are dealing with,” she said. “When and if he resigns, or if he does not resign and seeks re-election, there must be a counter-candidate. Then we must decide on that, and then you will know.”
She noted that she registers the names being circulated in the press, including her own, but reiterated that it is not a topic of discussion within her circle. “I don’t hear any internal discussions about real candidates,” she added. “At least not with us.”
Historically, mounting a challenge against a sitting FIFA president is a precarious endeavor that requires substantial political capital. Opposition usually coalesces only when the incumbent’s power structure shows undeniable signs of crumbling, forcing regional blocs to seek an alternative strategy rather than risking their standing on a long-shot bid.
A Sharp Rebuttal to Blatter
Among those to talk up her claims has been Sepp Blatter, the former FIFA president who was removed from office amid an organization-wide corruption scandal. Blatter, a staunch critic of Infantino, wrote on social media that Klaveness deserves respect. “She was the only one who consistently took a clear stance and did not follow the flow,” he posted. “And in FIFA, the time has come for a woman to take over the leadership.”
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Klaveness dismissed the endorsement, citing Blatter’s history regarding women’s football during his tenure. She recalled that he had previously suggested female players should wear more revealing kits to increase the sport’s popularity.
“I’m not on X, but I saw this,” Klaveness said. “Sepp Blatter was president when I was a player. I remember he wanted us to play with shorter shorts, and then I commented on it. But I have no comment on this.”
Victor Montagliani, the president of Concacaf and a current FIFA vice president, has been reported as considering a challenge to Infantino. However, Aleksander Ceferin, the head of UEFA, has not given any indication of his intentions regarding the race.