UEFA close to naming challenger to Infantino for FIFA presidency election

UEFA and its allies are moving closer to naming the candidate who will take on Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential election, with a decision expected as early as next week. The clock is ticking ahead of the vote in March: anyone intending to stand must confirm by 18 November, but confidence is growing that European opposition to Infantino will produce a challenger.

Who could lead the European challenge against Infantino

Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, has been mentioned in some European football circles as a potential unity candidate. However, the former Arsenal manager is not thought to have seriously entered the reckoning. This week he was in Azerbaijan attending the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and praising the organisation's new tournament.

Talks with potential nominees have gained momentum despite recent setbacks. One of the most striking was the U-turn by Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, who unexpectedly endorsed Infantino's push for a fourth term.

Timeline, meetings and UEFA's strategy

Once a challenger's identity is confirmed, the name will be presented to UEFA's executive committee and at an online meeting of the heads of national federations. Some sources believe those meetings could be called within the next seven days.

There is also a desire within parts of the organisation to delay any announcement for as long as possible, ideally until close to the deadline. The main goal would be to limit the window for a campaign of attacks by FIFA against the proposed candidate before the name becomes official.

The difficult path to removing Infantino

Anyone confirming a bid will have to confront serious doubts about the chances of defeating Infantino, who has launched an international effort in recent weeks to rebuild his position after the damage caused by the Fifa Forward Enterprise scandal.

The arithmetic is demanding: to reach the 106 votes required, the European bloc would need a substantial number of additional votes from Asia, Concacaf and Africa. Europe itself cannot take all of its own votes for granted in a secret ballot.

Scepticism is growing in some corners about the prospects of unseating Infantino at the ballot box. One argument is that a mass boycott or abstention at the vote in Rabat would be a more effective strategy. Such a move, according to that reasoning, would isolate a president whose organisation has never hidden its dependence on Europe for a large share of its revenue.

The legal battle over Fifa Forward documents

The dispute between UEFA and FIFA goes beyond the electoral arena. UEFA has filed applications with four courts in the United States seeking documents related to the failed Fifa Forward Enterprise project, with a view to lodging a criminal complaint in Switzerland over alleged financial mismanagement.

FIFA has rejected the accusations, denied wrongdoing by Infantino and accused UEFA of harassment and misinformation. A preliminary ruling is expected in the coming weeks, although a possible FIFA appeal could extend the process.

Meanwhile, Monday marks the deadline set by UEFA for FIFA to answer 42 questions on governance and decision-making. The topics include the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme, the FIFA peace prize and the suspension of Folarin Balogun's ban at the World Cup. UEFA has yet to receive a response. Last week Infantino said FIFA would answer all the questions posed, to the extent the process allows and to the best of its ability.

US politics and Ceferin's hardline stance

The US midterm elections on Tuesday could also shape the strategy of Infantino's opponents. In July, Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin opened an investigation into links between Infantino, FIFA and the Trump administration. He requested documents and a transcribed interview that has not yet taken place. If the Democrats were to flip the House, currently controlled by Republicans, that investigation could receive fresh impetus.

The period before 18 November looks critical for UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin. The Slovenian has driven a hardline approach against FIFA's leadership, restated last month in his Emperor's New Clothes speech at the general assembly of European football clubs in Copenhagen.

Fielding a viable candidate would add credibility to that stance. A repeat of UEFA's climbdown on the eve of the Under-20 Women's World Cup, when it withdrew a boycott threat, would prove damaging. Infantino, for his part, has carried out an extensive charm offensive this autumn with visits to Latvia, Czechia and Azerbaijan.