\n<\/p>\n
Gianni Infantino’s chances of being re-elected as Fifa president appear to have been given a major boost after potential rival Victor Montagliani confirmed he wants to remain as head of Concacaf.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Canadian, 61, was widely seen as a possible candidate after Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors sparked a global backlash. <\/p>\n
However, Montagliani never confirmed he wanted to challenge Infantino, and according to sources, he has now told colleagues that he will instead seek a final term as head of the confederation which governs North and Central America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
As first reported by the Guardian, it means he will not stand against Infantino, 56, who has confirmed he will be seeking a fourth term in March’s presidential election. <\/p>\n
The rebellion against him, spearheaded by European governing body Uefa, must now try to identify a unifying candidate by the deadline of 18 November. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Aleksander Ceferin will stand for a fourth term as Uefa president.<\/p>\n
Ceferin informed delegates of his decision at a meeting of all 55 national association chiefs in Berlin.<\/p>\n
Uefa also reaffirmed its opposition to Infantino as it published a 14-point plan to reform world football’s governing body.<\/p>\n
Ceferin’s move had been widely anticipated and reverses his insistence he would not seek re-election,<\/a> which the Slovenian outlined in February 2024.<\/p>\n At that point Ceferin, who was initially elected in 2016, was embroiled in a row over Uefa changing its statutes to allow him to serve for a fourth term.<\/p>\n However, there had been a growing expectation the 58-year-old would stand.<\/p>\n This has only been made more likely since Uefa launched its efforts to oust Infantino, who scrapped<\/a> his sell-off plan following widespread opposition.<\/p>\n “I want to thank the national associations for their trust,” Ceferin said. <\/p>\n “We have faced extraordinary challenges over the past years, and we have faced them as one team. There is still important work ahead, and I have therefore accepted their request. <\/p>\n “My ambition remains the same: to keep European football united, make our game stronger and leave Uefa ready for the next generation.”<\/p>\n