European Leagues President Declares Gianni Infantino’s FIFA Tenure at an End

Claudius Schaefer argues that the FIFA president’s influence has steadily increased over time.

Published On 26 Aug 202626 Aug 2026

European Leagues President Claudius Schaefer stated that Gianni Infantino has no future at FIFA, emphasizing the need to reform world football’s governing body and clarify the president’s responsibilities.

In an interview with The Athletic released on Wednesday, Schaefer noted that European Leagues, which represents 53 professional men’s and women’s football leagues, expressed serious concerns about Infantino’s leadership.

“We doubt his fitness to remain president. From our vantage point in Switzerland, we have observed FIFA closely, and it appears the president’s authority has grown year after year,” he added.

“Key decisions are made without substantive consultation with the stakeholders who will be impacted.”

Schaefer’s remarks come amid a growing rift among football’s governing bodies, triggered by FIFA’s now‑scrapped plan to sell a portion of the World Cup’s commercial rights.

Infantino faces pressure to step down from three confederations—Europe’s UEFA, Asia’s AFC, and CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. Regional associations have also floated the idea of a vote of no confidence against the FIFA president.

Criticism has also surfaced regarding the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize awarded to former U.S. President Donald Trump in December and the reversal of a suspension for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during this year’s World Cup after a call from a Republican leader.

“FIFA is an association governed by Swiss law, and its statutes require the president and board members to act with diligence. This is a legal obligation,” Schaefer said.

“Taking a decision such as the peace prize without even notifying the council constitutes, in my view, a breach of law. Moreover, during the World Cup we witnessed the red‑card controversy.”

“It was a genuine scandal. I cannot recall any previous instance of political interference in a sporting affair of this magnitude. Such actions undermine the integrity of the game, which is why Infantino has no future at FIFA—and there cannot be one.”

Infantino is set to run for a fourth term next year and will likely encounter strong opposition, yet Schaefer argued that redefining the FIFA presidency matters more than simply replacing the incumbent.

“For us, achieving these reforms is the paramount goal, and they can only be realized under a different president,” he added.

Source link