The International Football Association says that Gianni Infantino continues as chairman of the umbrella organization. The presidential election is not until next March at the Fifa Congress in Rwanda, but Infantino did not register any counter-candidates by the deadline. The organization announced the matter on Thursday.
The new four-year term will be Infantino’s third at the helm of Fifa.
Infantino has been constantly making waves this year and also just ahead of the men’s World Cup in Qatar, which starts on Sunday.
The most recent uproar arose at the beginning of the week, when Infantino expressed his wish for a month-long ceasefire in the war of aggression started by Russia in Ukraine.
Infantino’s comment was interpreted in such a way that it would mainly benefit Russia, which has been on the bottom lately. This is how you rate In Ilta-Sanom (you switch to another service) for example, the former intelligence chief of the General Staff Pekka Toveri.
– There are two options here: either the Kremlin has asked Infantino to hope for a cease-fire, or he himself has thought about how he could help his old friend, Toveri pointed out, referring to the Russian president to Vladimir Putin.
At the beginning of November, Infantino and the Secretary General of Fifa Fatma Samoura sent a letter urging the teams playing in the World Cup in Qatar to focus on playing instead of politics.
Executive director of Amnesty’s Finnish department Frank Johansson in an interview with , he thought the statement was ridiculous, because by doing its job properly, Fifa could have ensured that the football teams could have concentrated on playing. The World Cup in Qatar has been criticized because there have been many human rights violations in the country.
Already at the beginning of the year, Infantino surprised with his statements in front of the Council of Europe, when he spoke in favor of the World Cup organized every two years. Now the World Cup is played every four years.
According to Infantino, the World Cup held more often could give hope to African children, for example, and they would not have to become refugees, cross the Mediterranean and most likely drown in the sea.
Human rights organization Human Rights Watch you canceled the calls (you switch to another service), how refugees have never mentioned the timing of the World Cup as a spark of hope in their interviews. Infantino later said his comments had been misunderstood.
The Swiss-Italian football boss has also been criticized this year for the fact that he has been living in Qatar for more than a year.
Docent of media culture at the University of Tampere, familiar with Fifa Sami Kolamo says Infantino looks toothless based on his output.
According to Kolamo, Infantino has, for example, not criticized the actions of his predecessors in the selection of questionable competition hosts. In addition, he has been on good terms with Russian leader Putin, who organized the previous World Cup.
– To the eye of the researcher, it seems that Infantino prefers to participate in building the competition brand and event format rather than thinking about the underlying social grievances, states Kolamo.
A professor of political history at the University of Turku who has studied the relationship between football and politics Vesa Vares also says that living in Qatar or appealing for a ceasefire do not reflect well on Infantino.
– In a way, it is understandable that the president of Fifa is on the ground at the World Cup for a longer period of time to monitor different things, but not for such a long time. As for the ceasefire, that show looks beautiful and peaceful. But why is he bringing it up right now, when the attacker is in trouble? Vares says.
Money talks and the inner circle loyal to the chairman runs the business
Both Kolamo and Vares are of the opinion that money talks behind Infantino’s outings. During Infantino’s era, Fifa’s turnover has grown to seven billion US dollars. Vares says that the power of money has strengthened in the Infantino era. This is evidenced, for example, by talks about organizing the World Cup more often.
– It seems that business logic and money are the main drivers of how he talks about things in public, Kolamo sums up.
In February 2016, Infantino was elected president of Fifa after the president of the association since 1998 Sepp Blatter was embroiled in a corruption scandal that led to a criminal investigation.
– When Infantino was elected chairman, there were cautious hopes that the situation would change. It felt like the replacement would have to be better because Fifa’s reputation took such a beating under Blatter. But there are still all the things that Fifa has been criticized for, says Vares.
Finnish researchers estimate that Fifa has seen some small changes for the better under Infantino’s leadership. For example, the search for tournament hosts has been made more open, if you compare the process to, for example, 12 years ago the selection of Russia and Qatar as World Cup hosts.
However, Kolamo and Vares still see problems in Fifa’s operating methods. Vares says that the structural problems have even worsened. The most visible measures have been such that the damaged image has not at least improved.
Before becoming FIFA president, Infantino worked for fifteen years at UEFA. In 2009, Infantino was elected as UEFA’s general secretary.
Kolamo states that Infantino, like his predecessor Blatter, has tried to build a loyal inner circle for the leader.
– Committee work is important in Fifa, and the organization has many different committees. Everyday work is done in them. As in the old Fifa, the chairman has been given positive people who are easy to lead, Kolamo states.
Germany no longer trusts Infantino, the researcher also needs a firmer grip
However, a no-confidence motion of some sort was exceptionally seen this week. The German Football Association announced on Wednesday evening that they will not nominate their own candidate for the next presidential election, but will not support Infantino either.
The German Football Association would have liked Fifa to make a clearer commitment to human rights.
Kolamo has also longed for Fifa to make more direct statements under Infantino’s leadership. Kolamo reminds that Fifa could influence people because football is played all over the world.
– Infantino has a position where he could speak more boldly and bluntly about things that should change in the world. Although one could make speeches about climate change and the deterioration of the spectrum of nature, the speeches are more business logic. The rights of sponsors and close allies are protected, says Kolamo.