UEFA convenes federations to find Infantino challenger — Al Jazeera

UEFA has convened its 55 member federations for a summit in Berlin, Germany, where they plan to coordinate a strategy to find a candidate capable of challenging FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the election. The previously scheduled meeting is due to take place on Thursday amid efforts by European football officials to secure a change in the leadership of world football.

As Al Jazeera reports, UEFA's increased activity has been linked to Infantino's plan for private investment in the World Cup. The plan sparked controversy and failed within days of being unveiled in July.

Plans for FIFA reforms

UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis said last month that the situation at FIFA had gone too far and that the European organization wanted to change it. UEFA is also preparing to file a criminal complaint in Switzerland over possible financial mismanagement in connection with a sale deal related to the World Cup.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

The organization has asked US courts to allow the gathering of evidence. The Berlin meeting is expected to discuss proposals for a more transparent FIFA and a presidential candidate who would be ready to support such reforms.

Deadlines and potential candidates

UEFA and its allies must decide on at least one candidate by November 18, the deadline for nominations. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco. More than a quarter of FIFA's 211 member federations eligible to vote belong to UEFA.

According to an Associated Press investigation, Infantino already has about 90 pledged votes, although a potential challenger has not yet been identified. UEFA is not acting as a completely united bloc: Azerbaijan and Latvia have pledged support for Infantino. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin had previously ruled out running himself, but said there were "very, very" many potential candidates.