Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Victor Montagliani, widely touted as the biggest potential threat to Gianni Infantino’s FIFA re-election bid, intends to remain as head of CONCACAF rather than run against the beleaguered president, multiple outlets reported Thursday. Canadian businessman Montagliani reportedly told CONCACAF staff that he intends to seek a third full term heading the continental federation which represents North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
If confirmed, it would all but rule out Montagliani from challenging Infantino, who has been rocked by outrage over his now-aborted plan to create a commercial subsidiary to run FIFA’s biggest events, including the World Cup. The next FIFA election is scheduled to take place in March, with the CONCACAF election due early next year.
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A CONCACAF spokesman contacted by AFP did not immediately confirm the reports from the Guardian, BBC, and ESPN, which all cited anonymous sources. Montagliani, a FIFA vice-president, had long been regarded as a close ally of Infantino. However, there were signs, even before he distanced himself over the now-scrapped plan to allow private investment into the World Cup, that he viewed FIFA’s purpose somewhat differently than Infantino.
The Canadian has been president of CONCACAF since 2016, bringing much-needed stability to the confederation after his two immediate predecessors were swept up in a FIFA corruption scandal. Since the latest FIFA controversy erupted following this summer’s World Cup, Infantino has lost the support of numerous member associations as well as CONCACAF, Europe’s UEFA, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). UEFA has even begun to prepare legal proceedings over the scuppered plan.
Nonetheless, FIFA confirmed last month that Infantino will seek a fourth term heading football’s global governing body. Africa’s CAF and South America’s CONMEBOL remain loyal to Infantino, along with some Asian associations including 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia and 2022 hosts Qatar. So far, only former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has announced he intends to run against Infantino, with candidacies open until November 18.
© 2024 AFP
