Infantino could pull off ‘houdini’ act as FIFA critics struggle to find rival

Summary

• FIFA president Gianni Infantino could overcome mounting criticism and secure another term in office as opposition groups struggle to find a strong challenger ahead of next March’s election, football governance observers have told AFP.
• Opposition faces a difficult choice Despite the controversy, Burns believes football associations may ultimately avoid a divisive contest unless substantial evidence emerges to justify removing Infantino.
• With no heavyweight challenger emerging, the opposition faces a difficult choice: unite behind a credible candidate or risk allowing Infantino to strengthen his grip on world football.

AI Generated Summary

FIFA president Gianni Infantino could overcome mounting criticism and secure another term in office as opposition groups struggle to find a strong challenger ahead of next March’s election, football governance observers have told AFP.

The 56-year-old Swiss official has faced growing opposition since unveiling and then quickly shelving a controversial proposal to introduce private investment into the World Cup business. Despite losing support among several football associations, Infantino retains crucial backing in Africa and South America, potentially strengthening his chances of re-election.

His proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative, which emerged in July following the successful World Cup, would have established a commercial subsidiary to manage FIFA’s biggest events, including the global tournament.