Top News

Did Morocco's influence rescue Infantino? Opponents have shifted their strategy from trying to remove him to cutting back his powers.

Rabat has become the key word in the FIFA presidential race.

Only three weeks ago, forcing Gianni Infantino out of the FIFA presidency appeared to be only a matter of time. Then the meetings in Rabat and Nyon changed everything. In closed-door discussions, every calculation was turned upside down. The president whom his rivals believed was finished re-emerged with a web of loyalties built over 10 years, one that some described as "unbreakable", and one that now gives him enough votes to survive.

That change has left the European opposition with little option but to alter the battleground. Bringing down the most powerful figure in football was the original aim. The new target is more practical and potentially more dangerous: not to unseat Infantino, but to curb the powers of the presidency itself and remove its absolute authority.

The belief that the contest is over has now started to grow.

Reuters quoted a global football source familiar with the secret talks between senior officials as saying: "Three weeks ago, I thought he was finished. What I hadn't realised was how solid the relationships he built after ten years in power were, relationships that are almost impossible to break."

Infantino, 56, has faced the biggest test of his career this year. His controversial proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's competitions, including the World Cup, to private-sector investors had just fallen apart.

Critics described the plan as explosive, and it sparked widespread anger. European governing body UEFA, the Asian confederation and North and Central America's CONCACAF led a push demanding a change in FIFA's leadership. Several European associations withdrew their support for his re-election, with France becoming the latest to do so last Thursday.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom called it all "a series of unfortunate and disgraceful events". However, after the crisis meeting in Rabat, he gave Infantino his full backing, a clear indication that the immediate storm was beginning to ease.

The 211-vote arithmetic has left Europe facing a major dilemma.

Infantino's real strength lies in FIFA's electoral structure. Each of the 211 national associations has one equal vote at the FIFA Congress. Removing the president would require a worldwide coalition far larger than the 55 votes controlled by UEFA members.

That is where the danger lies for his opponents. If they confront the president and lose, they risk strengthening his control instead of weakening it.

One source said: "I think the course of things has changed. It has become far too risky for European football to go into a vote and not win."

No rival with the ability to unite global backing has emerged ahead of next March's election, with the deadline for candidacies set for 18 November.

Leading football figures regard Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as one of the few capable of building the intercontinental alliance needed to defeat Infantino. But through a spokesperson, he ruled himself out completely, saying he "does not aspire, intend or wish to take up the FIFA presidency".

Victor Montagliani, the president of CONCACAF, is the other name being discussed. He has confirmed that he would not stand unless he had sufficient guarantees of victory. That leaves the door open for a surprise candidate from Africa or Asia.

The loyalty of smaller nations may yet prove to be Morocco's strongest card.

By contrast, Infantino continues to enjoy firm support from the major blocs outside Europe. Steve Laigle, president of the New Caledonia federation, confirmed the mood in Oceania: "Most of the presidents of the Oceania federations have declared their support for Mr Infantino, and we will support him to the end. When we make a promise and are loyal to someone, we remain loyal to him until the end."

Africa presents a similar picture, where the majority believe that continued support will lead to increased development funding. Morocco, one of the continent's most influential federations, is among Infantino's public supporters. Reports, denied by FIFA, claimed that he promised the 2030 World Cup final to Casablanca in exchange for maintaining African support. The Moroccan federation did not comment.

With the situation at a standstill, some opponents have started examining an alternative route: reshaping FIFA's administrative structure instead of replacing the president.

Two sources said officials are considering removing powers from the presidency and transferring them to the general secretariat, while also tightening supervision over major strategic and commercial decisions.

Philippe Diallo, president of the French Federation, withdrew his confidence in Infantino. "The trust granted to the FIFA president has been broken," he said, confirming that the balance of power has become part of the debate inside UEFA.

"The project cannot be purely European, but must bring together all the continents," Diallo added. "Our task now is to ensure the emergence of a programme and a candidate, then to work to ensure their victory."

Rabat will host the FIFA presidential election on 18 March 2027. What started as an effort to overthrow Infantino may yet turn into a fight to rein him in.