FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed and intensifying criticism from leading European football figures, including UEFA, LaLiga, and the German Football Association (DFB), just months before the 2027 FIFA presidential election. Despite the growing opposition, Infantino remains the overwhelming favourite to secure another term when FIFA members vote in Morocco on March 18, 2027.
UEFA and LaLiga Step Up Criticism
According to The New York Times, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin reportedly skipped the 2026 FIFA World Cup final due to increasing frustration with FIFA's handling of several issues. A key point of contention was FIFA's decision to reverse a one-match suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun. This disagreement added to existing tensions over ticket pricing, tournament scheduling, mandatory hydration breaks, half-time entertainment, and other competition regulations.
Reuters reported that LaLiga President Javier Tebas renewed his criticism of Infantino, accusing FIFA of placing excessive pressure on domestic competitions by expanding international tournaments. Tebas stated, 'In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.' However, he admitted that Infantino continues to enjoy significant backing, adding, 'He shouldn't stay, but the current state of affairs means he won't leave.' Tebas also criticised the Balogun decision, saying: 'The suspension of the American player's ban is an extremely serious matter. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the U.S., because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job.'
German FA Distances Itself
Pressure further intensified after reports from Sports Illustrated indicated that the German Football Association (DFB) declined to sign a letter endorsing Infantino's re-election. This move represents a rare public distancing by one of Europe's biggest football federations. Nevertheless, support from Africa, Asia, and South America is expected to secure Infantino another four-year mandate.
Meanwhile, viral social media posts claiming the European Parliament had launched an investigation into the FIFA chief were found to be misleading. While no formal parliamentary inquiry exists, 72 Members of the European Parliament wrote to European football associations urging them to seek an independent FIFA review into the Balogun controversy.
UEFA Takes Swipe at FIFA by Appointing Rejected Somali Referee
In a related development, UEFA appointed Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup after he missed the FIFA World Cup despite initially being selected among the tournament's officials. Artan was unable to participate in the World Cup after being denied entry into the United States. UEFA later handed the highly rated African referee one of European football's biggest annual fixtures by naming him the referee for the Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
