FairSquare challenges Infantino's eligibility under FIFA statutes

An ONG called FairSquare has asked Fifa to declare Gianni Infantino ineligible for the March 2027 presidential election, arguing the statutes limit presidents to three terms, while the governing body prepares to vote with Infantino, 56, as the sole declared candidate.

Letter to FIFA's governance body

The British ONG FairSquare sent a letter on 13 August to the FIFA Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, an independent organ, which The Athletic was able to review. The letter asks the committee to render Infantino ineligible for the upcoming vote.

FairSquare's argument rests on the FIFA statutes that state no individual may serve more than three presidential mandates, without distinguishing the nature of those mandates. Infantino is seeking a fourth term, which the NGO says breaches that rule.

La Fifa will hold its presidential election in March 2027. Gianni Infantino, the current president, is the only candidate who has formally declared his intention to run. He is 56 years old.

The ONG writes, "Neither the FIFA statutes nor the FIFA governance regulations provide that a president's term can be shortened because it did not last the maximum four years". It adds, "The statutes explicitly state that ‘no one may hold the office of president for more than three terms’, without making any distinction regarding the nature of those terms".

Wider backlash against Infantino

FairSquare warns that allowing a fourth term could set a precedent for a president to manipulate early elections and remain in power indefinitely. It notes, "Given the various abuses of power by Mr Infantino, such a scenario is possible". In December, the ONG also called for an inquiry into the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump. Meanwhile, CONCACAF, the AFC and UEFA have publicly questioned Infantino’s governance, with UEFA described as waging an open war against him.

The juxtaposition of a scheduled election with a single candidate and an organised campaign to block his candidacy highlights a growing governance dispute within FIFA, suggesting that the March 2027 vote may be contested on procedural grounds.