FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Seek Re-election Amid Controversy

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election despite increasing calls for him to resign from his position as the head of world soccer's governing body. Infantino has faced pressure following his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, which received significant backlash. FIFA announced on Sunday that he intends to run again in next year's elections for a final term in office through 2031. A FIFA spokesperson stated, "The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be standing for re-election." The deadline for candidates to enter the presidential contest is November 18, exactly four months ahead of the vote. UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, has led calls for Infantino to step down, stating it has lost confidence in him and previously threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. Several national associations, including the English FA, have also withdrawn support for Infantino's re-election. On Saturday, Infantino declined to comment on his future while attending the opening of the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, stating, "There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It's not today, it's not here, but here and today, we are enjoying football," as reported by Sky News. FIFA has apologized for errors related to its plan to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary and committed to preventing similar issues in the future. However, this has not alleviated the pressure on Infantino. UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against Infantino in Swiss courts for potential financial mismanagement regarding his abandoned plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his opinion last month, stating that Infantino was not the right leader for world soccer's governing body.