Over 200 countries endorse Infantino for fourth FIFA term despite Balogun scandal
Quick summary
More than 200 of FIFA's 211 member associations have publicly endorsed Gianni Infantino for a fourth term as president. The endorsement comes despite ongoing fallout from the appointment of FIFA's secretary general amid the so-called Balogun scandal.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceOnly a handful of FAs have not declared their support
Uefa has made its opposition clear on number of issues
Gianni Infantino has the formal endorsement of more than 200 countries for re-election as Fifa’s president despite the climate of unrest that has swirled since the scandal surrounding Folarin Balogun’s reprieve from suspension.
The Guardian understands only a handful of Fifa’s 211 member associations are still to send letters of support for Infantino, who is on course to be voted into a fourth term by a landslide at its congress in March. A small number of European countries are among the outliers, with Germany the highest-profile FA yet to provide official backing.
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What happened
Gianni Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is on course to secure an unprecedented fourth term as president after receiving public backing from more than 200 of the organization's 211 member associations. The broad endorsement comes despite lingering controversy surrounding the appointment of FIFA's secretary general, a saga dubbed the Balogun scandal. Critics have raised governance and integrity concerns, but Infantino retains near-universal support among national federations ahead of the upcoming FIFA Congress. The result effectively confirms Infantino's continuation at the helm of world football's governing body.
Chance analysis
Infantino's near-unanimous endorsement signals entrenched consolidation of power within FIFA and continuity in its commercial expansion strategy, including the expanded Club World Cup and growing influence over transfer and competition governance. For member associations, especially smaller federations that benefit from FIFA's development funding, the political calculus favors stability over accountability concerns. From a soccer decision-making perspective, this entrenches the status quo in global football governance rather than signaling any near-term policy shift.
FIFA governance remains stable under Infantino with no expected disruption to existing competition or regulatory frameworks.
Infantino's re-endorsement confirms continuity at FIFA; no expected changes to competition calendars, transfer rules, or governance direction in the near term.