Rights group challenges Infantino’s re-election eligibility over term limit interpretation
Mounting opposition from major confederations and the Scottish FA coincides with formal complaint questioning 2022 ruling that excluded Infantino’s first term from the limit.
Human rights organisation FairSquare has formally urged FIFA to declare Gianni Infantino ineligible to seek re-election as president, arguing that the football governing body’s statutes limit leaders to three terms and that Infantino has already reached that threshold. The complaint centres on the interpretation of Infantino’s initial appointment in 2016, which was excluded from his term count in a 2022 ruling.
Infantino was elected at an Extraordinary FIFA Congress in 2016 following the resignation of Sepp Blatter. In 2022, the governing body ruled that this initial spell did not count towards the three-term limit because it served to complete an interrupted mandate. FairSquare contends this interpretation is inconsistent with the statutes and constitutes a breach of rules that sets a dangerous precedent for presidential power.
The challenge comes as Infantino prepares to seek re-election for the 2027-31 cycle at the FIFA Congress in Morocco on 18 March. FairSquare’s Director Nicholas McGeehan described the 2022 decision as a circumvention of term limits, noting that the committee’s reasoning was never made public and was announced just two days before the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Political pressure on the president has intensified following FIFA’s proposal to establish a $20 billion subsidiary linked to its competitions to attract private investment. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF have called for a review of Infantino’s conduct regarding this financial restructuring. Sources indicate these confederations view the FairSquare complaint as an opportunity for Infantino to step down with his dignity intact.
The Scottish Football Association has explicitly stated it will not support Infantino’s re-election, citing concerns over governance. While Infantino retains the backing of the African and South American confederations, the complaint was drafted with assistance from Miguel Maduro, former head of FIFA’s independent Governance and Review Committee. Maduro asserted that carving out an exception to the term limit rule reveals a resistance to the principles established in the 2016 reforms.
