Former Governance Committee head Miguel Maduro asserts that FIFA rules restrict presidents to three terms without exempting partial mandates like Infantino's initial 2016 to 2019 stint. While the FIFA Council determined behind closed doors in December 2022 that this partial term would not count, FairSquare is lobbying 52 associations to challenge that decision. Maduro, who was ousted in 2017 after barring a Russian official from office, warned that weakened oversight has left top leadership operating without accountability. Even as opposition groups meet with critical federations like Norway, Infantino continues to enjoy vital confederation support, including from Asian football leaders.
Key points
Legal interpretations dispute Infantino's claim that completing an interrupted mandate ex…: Legal interpretations dispute Infantino's claim that completing an interrupted mandate exempts his first term from official limits.
FairSquare is coordinating with dozens of national associations, including Norway, to cha…: FairSquare is coordinating with dozens of national associations, including Norway, to challenge the undisclosed reasoning behind FIFA's council ruling.
Opposition efforts face substantial hurdles because key continental confederations contin…: Opposition efforts face substantial hurdles because key continental confederations continue to publicly back Infantino's continued leadership.
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Nov 3 : Gianni Infantino cannot stand for a fourth term as FIFA president in 2027 under the body's statutes, former head of the FIFA Governance Committee Miguel Maduro said on Tuesday as human rights organisation FairSquare wrote to member associations urging them to declare him ineligible.
FairSquare had previously urged FIFA to rule that Infantino is ineligible to seek another term as president, arguing he has already served the maximum three terms permitted under the body's statutes.
But Infantino successfully argued that his first spell in charge when he was elected at an Extraordinary Congress in 2016 following Sepp Blatter's resignation, should not count towards that limit because it completed an interrupted mandate.
In December 2022, the FIFA Council had "unanimously confirmed" that the period between 2016 and 2019 does not count as a term of office for Infantino but FairSquare said the reasoning had never been made public.
"Article 33, paragraph two of the FIFA statutes is very clear when it says no person may serve as president for more than three terms," Maduro told reporters.
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