Fifa president Gianni Infantino is currently navigating a significant internal rebellion as members of the Fifa Council work to trigger an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). This move could escalate into a full-scale leadership challenge for the organization's top position. The governing body's primary decision-making forum, which consists of 28 confederation representatives, eight vice presidents, and Infantino, requires a motion from 19 of the 37 total members to officially call an EGM.
Dissatisfaction among council members centers on the controversial handling of Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup. Rebels are demanding an independent review of the decision to lift the suspension, an event that reportedly involved multiple phone calls from Donald Trump. The Norwegian FA has already filed an official complaint with the International Olympic Committee, alleging that Fifa violated its own political neutrality rules by yielding to external pressure. While Fifa maintains that the ethics committee followed due process, the organization has yet to provide a written report on the proceedings.
The push for an EGM gained momentum even before revelations surfaced regarding Infantino’s secret proposal to sell a 20% stake in a new World Cup operating company to Thrive Capital. This investment firm was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Although Fifa abandoned the sell-off plan early Saturday morning following intense backlash from Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, the incident has emboldened those seeking a governance overhaul.
Governance concerns remain high, with Uefa and Concacaf officially calling for a thorough review. However, the path to ousting Infantino remains complex. While 14 of the 37 council members represent Europe and North America, widespread support from Asia is necessary to exert significant pressure. Conversely, the Confederation of African Football, South American Conmebol, and the Qatar Football Association have publicly backed the president. Qatar’s support effectively ends speculation regarding a potential bid from Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
The rebels hope to force an EGM before the next scheduled meeting in November to compel Infantino to address these controversies. If he refuses to initiate an external review, alternative candidates may be sought. Other potential avenues for removing the president include an emergency Fifa Congress to trigger a vote of no confidence, which requires formal letters from 43 associations. Although Infantino has secured over 200 letters of support for his re-election campaign, these endorsements are not permanent, and the deadline for other candidates to declare their intent to stand is November 18.
