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UEFA chief Aleksander Čeferin calls for Infantino to quit but rules out replacing him
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, but warned that the embattled FIFA boss must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March. Infantino has come under increasing pressure to
UEFA chief Aleksander Čeferin calls for Infantino to quit but rules out replacing him
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, but warned that the embattled FIFA boss must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down over his aborted plans to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, with three continental confederations accusing him of “deception” and UEFA threatening a boycott of FIFA competitions.
Despite being widely regarded as a potential challenger to Infantino, 58-year-old Čeferin reaffirmed his commitment to UEFA during an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast.
“I’m not interested because of two reasons,” Čeferin said. “One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point… it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.
“And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”
Ceferin has been vocal in his criticism since Infantino revealed his controversial plans to seek private investment in a company to run FIFA tournaments.
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He now believes Infantino’s position is under threat, and he must have to stand down or face a leadership challenge if he seeks re-election at the next FIFA Congress, in Morocco in March.
Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, had the broad backing of European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016.
But Ceferin, who revealed he has not spoken to Infantino since the start of the controversy, insisted the current situation was very different.
“There are two options,” he said.
“One option is that he (Infantino) realises that he doesn’t have the support, and that’s not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of the football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches.
“And the second option, that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who.”
Source: Zambian Observer — Read more
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