Gianni Infantino has addressed future as FIFA boss faces quit demand | Football | Sport

Gianni Infantino is resolute in his determination to remain as FIFA president despite growing calls for his resignation over allowing Donald Trump to interfere in the World Cup. The United States crashed out of the tournament at the last-16 stage following a 4-1 thrashing by Belgium in Seattle.

They did so with key player Folarin Balogun named in the starting XI after the one-match ban he received for his red card during the 2-0 victory over Bosnia in the last-32 round was controversially suspended, with President Trump revealing he had asked Infantino to examine the incident. Belgium subsequently had an appeal against the ruling rejected, though they proved far too powerful for the co-hosts regardless. Nevertheless, the repercussions of Trump’s involvement are expected to persist amid widespread calls for Infantino to step down after a decade in the position.

FIFA has stringent regulations against political meddling in the affairs of its national associations. Only recently, the Nepalese federation was suspended for third-party interference.

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However, should Infantino have his way, he will continue at the helm of FIFA for another five years after announcing his plans to seek re-election next year. Following the standard four-year cycle, should he prevail, his tenure would stretch to 2031, at which point he would be prohibited from standing again, having reached his maximum term limit.

Speaking in April, the 56-year-old said: “As you’ve heard, the electoral period for the presidential election at FIFA starts today. I’m honoured and humbled at the same time, and I want to tell you first, the 211 member associations, I want to confirm to you that I will be a candidate for the election of FIFA president next year.”

Despite facing criticism in Europe, Infantino enjoys considerable backing in other parts of the world, including in Africa and South America. Consequently, should he navigate the present controversy, his re-election in 2027 is probable.

UEFA has condemned FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s red card suspension, declaring it “crossed a red line.” A statement from European football’s governing body read: ” Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.

“A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.

“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”

It added: “We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”