Human Rights Group Demands Disqualification of Gianni Infantino

Human rights watchdog FairSquare is demanding that FIFA disqualify Gianni Infantino from running again, claiming he has already hit the maximum number of terms allowed by the organization's own statutes. The group argues that Infantino served his full quota when he took office in 2016 following Sepp Blatter's resignation.

In 2022, FIFA made a special ruling to exclude Infantino's initial spell from the three-term limit. This decision rests on the idea that his first mandate was incomplete because it began after a sudden leadership change. FairSquare insists this interpretation violates the governing body's written rules and sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents.

Nicholas McGeehan, who leads FairSquare, sent a formal complaint to FIFA's Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee. He told Reuters that allowing Infantino to bypass these limits breaks the very checks designed to prevent power from concentrating in one person too long. "The rules state clearly that three presidential terms is the maximum allowed," McGeehan said. "FIFA can't simply circumvent this rule by saying that his first term doesn't count."

Infantino faces a critical vote next year during the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 18 in Morocco. He intends to campaign for another six-year cycle covering 2027 through 2031. However, he is running into stiff opposition from several major football regions. UEFA, along with Asian and North American confederations, recently asked for a review of his conduct after FIFA proposed a massive $20bn subsidiary for its tournaments.

Sources close to the situation suggest these groups see Infantino's potential departure as a chance to leave office on their own terms. Scottish Football Association chief Ian Maxwell publicly stated that his federation would not back an Infantino re-election bid. Despite this, he still holds support from African and South American football associations.

FairSquare also attacked the secrecy surrounding the 2022 decision. The organization noted that FIFA never released the reasoning behind ignoring Infantino's first term. McGeehan pointed out that the committee announced its apparent stance only two days before the Qatar World Cup final. "The fact they didn't provide any reasoning to support this claim suggests that they knew full well that there was no basis to discount Infantino's first term," he argued.

Miguel Maduro, who formerly led FIFA's independent Governance and Review Committee, helped draft the letter challenging Infantino's eligibility. He emphasized that ignoring established rules undermines the entire system of checks and balances. "The principle of term limits was a fundamental aspect of the 2016 reform aimed at limiting power," Maduro stated. Trying to create exceptions for one individual shows how some leaders treat regulations as mere obstacles rather than binding laws.