UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin rules out FIFA presidency bid but issues ultimatum to Gianni Infantino

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has officially confirmed that he will not challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. Despite mounting criticism surrounding Infantino’s controversial World Cup expansion plans and private investment pursuit, Ceferin has opted to focus on his current mandate in Europe rather than running for the top global job.

Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Ceferin explained that his decision is rooted in his commitment to UEFA and a desire to maintain his impartiality. He argued that his credibility as a leader is strengthened by having no personal interest in the FIFA role.

I’m not interested because of two reasons. One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here and I think that at a certain point … it’s time to also enjoy life a bit. And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position. Aleksander Ceferin

While ruling himself out, Ceferin delivered a stark ultimatum to the FIFA president. He warned that Infantino is increasingly isolated and must either step down voluntarily or prepare for a bitter election fight at the upcoming congress in Morocco. He emphasized that Infantino lacks the political support of the wider football community, including players and coaches.

Ceferin also dismantled FIFA’s attempts to frame the European opposition as elitist. He reminded the public that Infantino, a fellow European, was originally supported by UEFA for his current position, and criticized the attempt to turn the global game against the European confederation.