FIFA vote: German FA president Neuendorf still seeking an alternative to Infantino
After the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, Bernd Neuendorf is sticking to his goal of replacing Gianni Infantino. There is still no official challenger, however.
Archive image · Photo: Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
German Football Association (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf is sticking to his aim of bringing about a change at the top of world soccer's governing body. "So far we are holding on to it, of course, the goal is that we want to see a different person at the head of FIFA," he said after Thursday's FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, according to SID. "We need a person of integrity."
The election will be held in Rabat in March 2027, and nominations must be submitted by Nov. 18. No official challenger to incumbent Gianni Infantino has emerged so far. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out a candidacy, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi is not available either. The Times reported that former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is being courted, while The Guardian reported that proposals such as Wenger had been rejected.
Neuendorf had already said in early October that he would not vote for Infantino. According to SID, the confederations of Africa and South America back the Swiss official. UEFA plans to meet again before Nov. 17.