Aleksander Ceferin warns Gianni Infantino he must quit or face FIFA challenge

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says Gianni Infantino must stand down as FIFA president or face a leadership challenge at the next FIFA Congress, while insisting he has no interest in replacing him.

Infantino has faced growing opposition over his abandoned proposal to attract private investment to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. UEFA has threatened a boycott of FIFA events, while several continental and national football associations have also withdrawn their backing for the Swiss administrator.

Ceferin, however, has ruled himself out of succeeding Infantino. The 58-year-old Slovenian told The Rest is Politics podcast on Monday: “I’m not interested because of two reasons.

“One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point… it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.

“And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”

The UEFA president has been an outspoken critic of Infantino since the FIFA president disclosed plans to seek private funding for a company that would operate FIFA tournaments.

Ceferin now believes Infantino’s position at the head of world football is no longer secure. He said Infantino would either have to resign or contest an election against an opposing candidate if he sought re-election at the next FIFA Congress, which is due to take place in Morocco in March.

“There are two options,” Ceferin said.

“One option is that he (Infantino) realises that he doesn’t have the support, and that’s not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of the football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches.

“And the second option, that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who.”

Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, received broad support from European football associations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016.

But Ceferin said the circumstances surrounding the current dispute were fundamentally different. He also revealed that he had not spoken to Infantino since the controversy began.

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa are regarded as two of the most likely potential challengers to Infantino.

Infantino spent the weekend in the Dominican Republic, where he held meetings with local and regional football officials. His visit came despite reports that Montagliani had asked him not to attend a youth tournament in the country.

In video remarks released by FIFA on Sunday, Infantino appeared to address the dispute surrounding his leadership and the reaction to his investment plans.

“It’s important to engage, to have a dialogue, to express views and opinions,” he said.

“A lot has been happening the last few weeks and it’s important that you hear, you listen, and you’re able to also express what your feelings are.

“So I think overall positive, very, very happy with all the support I get here.”