Infantino uses FIFA staff to lobby MAs for his March 2027 presidential election

July 15 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been using governing body staff to lobby and pressure national associations to send letters of support for his re-election as president at the FIFA Conference on March 18, 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.

A number of national association presidents have told Insideworldfootball that they have been pressured by FIFA officials to send in nomination letters. They were even sent sample letters from FIFA staff with names they want to see supporting Infantino’s re-election.

Use of FIFA staff to lobby or campaign for presidential candidates. Doing so is a clear violation of the FIFA Administrative Rules and the FIFA Code of Conduct which require political neutrality and that all officials and employees refrain from using FIFA resources or their positions to influence elections.

Using official staff time, travel, or organizational resources to lobby for a presidential candidate violates FIFA’s fundamental duty of loyalty and institutional fairness. Any official or staff member who violates the election code by lobbying or campaigning may face disciplinary action including fines, suspension or outright banning from football matches.

The code includes a sitting president using staff resources in his election campaign and using the weight of his presidential power to win votes.

An example of a letter of support used by FIFA staff is the one taken from Nigeria which was signed at the FIFA Summit in Vancouver on April 30.

As well as promoting Infantino’s position, the letter goes on to say: “Furthermore, we would like to clarify that the Nigeria Football Federation only supports Mr. Gianni Infantino for the position of FIFA President, therefore, it will not sign another declaration of support in favor of any other candidate for this position.”

The letter was signed on the day Infantino announced his election at the FIFA Conference. There has been no announcement of another presidential candidate, and there has been no announcement of his rival Infantino.

At the time of the Vancouver conference FIFA staff had been searching hard and, according to one FA president, “relentlessly” for letters of support.

The lobbying has continued throughout the current World Cup where FIFA has invited presidents of member associations and their guests to attend matches.

Lobbying began with African member associations – traditionally Infantino’s base of support – before turning to Concacaf’s Caribbean and Central American countries with help from their regional associations.

As the World Cup continues and FIFA’s failure of integrity receives international criticism, especially regarding the influence of US president Donald Trump in the Balogun red card incident, the confederations have distanced themselves further from the public support of Infantino.

A number of confederations – including the English FA which is usually high and mighty when it comes to matters of governance at FIFA level – have come under pressure to withdraw their declarations of support.

There have also been rumors that there may be a credible candidate to challenge Infantino, although who that candidate might be is currently shrouded in mystery.

Signed letters of support are non-binding, and are signed before voters check out any candidates. Infantino’s lack of understanding makes it very easy for national associations to withdraw support, and some of them feel pressure from the national governments of those who support their sport at home to do so.

Infantino faces a number of challenges to his authority outside FIFA’s protective walls, the latest being a claim filed with the IOC that he violated the Olympic Charter.

In 2015, Michel Platini was suspended from running for the presidency of FIFA by the Ethics Committee of FIFA for allegations that he was dismissed three times in 10 years. Infantino stood as a ‘placeholder’ for Platini at the time and went on to win the election.

Logic and following the same rules that applied to Platini, would suggest that Infantino should be suspended pending a full investigation into his conduct by FIFA’s Ethics Committee. If a breach of FIFA’s electoral code is made part of that investigation then for FIFA to retain any vestige of moral integrity, Infantino will surely have to be suspended.

Critics and detractors of FIFA point to the old saying that ‘there are two chances’ that will happen; Bob and No.

But the discussion condemned by the whole country to Donald Trump, the award of the FIFA Peace Prize, the red card of Balogun (perhaps the biggest scandal that has ever touched the final of the World Cup while it was still being played), and the total disregard of the FIFA rules and the electoral code, could be the last pieces that break the support of the FIFA member organization due to its expansion.

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