UEFA HAS ANNOUNCED that general secretary Gianni Infantino will run for the Fifa presidency.
Facing a string of corruption charges, outgoing boss Sepp Blatter is currently serving a 90-day suspension and the 79-year-old will be replaced in his role when an election is held in February.
Uefa president Michel Platini’s candidacy is in doubt as he has also been banned for 90-days and European football’s governing body are now backing Infantino — who many fans will know as the face of their club and international draws.
“The forthcoming election for a new FIFA President represents a crucial moment in the governance of the game and the future of FIFA itself,” a Uefa statement reads.
“We believe that Gianni Infantino has all of the qualities required to tackle the major challenges ahead and to lead the organisation on a path of reform to restore FIFA’s integrity and credibility.
“Gianni has done a great job at UEFA, has a proven track record as a top class administrator and built positive relations with football stakeholders around the globe.
He has been a long-time advocate of the need for change and renewed development at FIFA and would bring a refreshing and informed voice to the top table of football’s world governing body.
“We are delighted that Gianni has agreed to stand and he knows that he has our full support in his campaign to become FIFA president. He is in the process of submitting the required nominations and will issue a statement on his candidacy later today.”
The 46-year-old, who has a legal background, joined Uefa in 2000 and became their director of legal affairs and club licensing four years later.
And in 2009, the Swiss was appointed to his current position.
Today is the deadline for candidates to submit their applications and Infantino will be one of six men going for the job.
The others are South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, David Nakhid of Trinidad and Tobago, ex-Fifa deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne and president of Asian football Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
