Infantino has no future at FIFA, says European Leagues chief | Football News
FIFA President Infantino Faces Increasing Opposition from European Leagues
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Published August 26, 2026
Claudius Schaefer, president of European Leagues, has expressed concerns regarding the future of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, emphasizing the need for significant reforms within the organization. In an interview with The Athletic, Schaefer stated that the influence of the FIFA president has “grown from year to year,” raising questions about Infantino’s suitability for his current role.
European Leagues, which represents 53 professional men’s and women’s football leagues, has been closely monitoring Infantino’s leadership. Schaefer remarked, “Major decisions are taken without meaningful consultation with stakeholders who will be affected.”
Schaefer’s statements come on the heels of a conflict among governing bodies, sparked by FIFA’s now-abandoned proposal to commercialize a portion of the World Cup’s rights. Infantino is reportedly facing pressure to resign from three confederations: UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia), and CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean). Discussions of a potential vote of no confidence against the FIFA president have also emerged.
Further complicating matters, concerns have been raised about FIFA’s awarding of an inaugural peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump in December. Additionally, Infantino’s decision to overturn a ban for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during the recent World Cup, following intervention from Trump, has drawn criticism.
Schaefer underscored the legal responsibilities of FIFA’s leadership, stating, “FIFA is an association under Swiss law… the president and board members have to perform their duties with care.” He expressed that decisions, such as awarding the peace prize without council consultation, could represent a breach of legal standards. He also highlighted what he referred to as a “real scandal” concerning political intervention in sports, questioning the game’s integrity. “That’s why there is no future at FIFA for Infantino,” Schaefer concluded.
As Infantino prepares to seek re-election for a fourth term next year, he faces potential challenges in the election process. However, Schaefer emphasized that the primary objective should be to redefine the role of the FIFA president, stating, “For us, getting these reforms is the most important task, and they can only happen with another president.”
