Claudius Schafer, chief executive of European Leagues, says Gianni Infantino “has no future at FIFA” and believes the organisation must overhaul its governance structure and reconsider the powers and responsibilities of its president.
European Leagues, which represents 53 leading men’s and women’s domestic competitions, is deeply concerned by Infantino’s style of leadership, according to Schafer in an interview with The Athletic published on Wednesday.
“We question whether he is suitable to continue in the role of president,” Schafer said. “From our position close to FIFA here in Switzerland, it appears that the president’s influence has grown year after year. Major decisions at FIFA are being made without genuine consultation with the stakeholders who will be affected by them.”
Infantino is facing increasing pressure from three continental confederations – UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf – which are calling for him to step down.
Schafer argued that the issue was not simply political, but also a matter of legal responsibility. FIFA is governed by Swiss law and has established rules covering the conduct of its president and council members.
“FIFA is an organisation subject to Swiss law, and it has clear rules,” he said. “The president and the members of the council have to carry out their duties carefully and responsibly. This is primarily a legal matter.”
He cited the decision to give a peace prize to United States president Donald Trump without informing the FIFA Council as an example of conduct he believes breached those obligations.
“When a decision of this kind is taken, such as awarding a peace prize to President Donald Trump without even informing the council, that is, in my view, a breach of the law,” Schafer said.
He also referred to the controversy involving Folarin Balogun’s red card during the World Cup, describing the episode as evidence of inappropriate political involvement in a sporting matter.
“It was a real scandal,” Schafer said. “I cannot remember political intervention of this kind in a sporting case. Such actions raise doubts about the integrity of the game. That is why I say Infantino has no future at FIFA.”
Infantino is expected to seek a fourth term as FIFA president next year, although he is likely to face strong opposition.
For Schafer, however, changing the person in the position is not enough. He said FIFA must redefine the role of its president and reform the organisation’s wider governance mechanisms.
“For us, these reforms are the absolute priority, and we believe they can only be achieved with another president,” he said.
European Leagues’ concerns come as debate continues over the balance of power within FIFA and the extent to which national leagues and other football stakeholders are consulted before major decisions are made.
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