The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has begun searching for a potential candidate to succeed Gianni Infantino as president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), The Telegraph reported on August 1.
According to journalists, UEFA leadership believes FIFA needs a leader capable of uniting the football community. At the same time, the organization acknowledges that a European candidate might not secure the necessary support in the election.
The Telegraph notes that UEFA holds Victor Montagliani, president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), in high regard. The 60‑year‑old official has held this position since 2016.
On the same day, UEFA declared it had lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The rift stems from disagreements over Infantino’s initiative to involve private investors in managing the commercial rights of the World Cup. The proposal failed to win backing from UEFA, CONCACAF, the Asian Football Confederation, and the South American Football Confederation.
Details of Infantino’s plan to bring in private investors by selling tournament rights became public on July 28. In response, UEFA announced a boycott of FIFA tournaments on July 30. Members were urged to stand firm in defending their own interests and to oppose Infantino’s plans, which, according to UEFA, “have no place in world football.”
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