Gianni Infantino re-elected as FIFA President again, to serve until 2027

FIFA President Gianni Infantino | Credit: IMAGO

BREAKING Gianni Infantino re-elected as FIFA President again, to serve until 2027

Jidechi Chidiezie 10:10 - 16.03.2023

The Swiss football administrator was first elected to the office during the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress in February 2016

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been re-elected for a third term of four years, at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Rwandan capital Kigali, after no challengers opposed his candidature.

FIFA Presidents are limited to three four-year terms in office, which means the 52-year-old who was first elected to the highest football office in February 2016, will remain in the position until 2027.

Infantino run unopposed

The election held during the 73rd Congress saw no opponents from FIFA's 211 national associations step forward to challenge Infantino's candidature.

Infantino two terms in office had seen him come under heavy fire from the European confederation UEFA, for defending Qatar as the host of the 2022 World Cup.

Germany's Football Federation (DFB), stated during Thursday's election, that they will not support Infantino's re-election bid, despite him being the only candidate.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the funeral of Brazilian legend Pele, in 2022
FIFA President Gianni Infantino with Pele's widow, Marcia Aoki in 2022

During his first two terms, Infantino has also overseen the expansion of both men’s and women’s World Cup, as well as, huge increases in FIFA revenues.

New president to emerge in 2027

Barring any surprises, the Swiss football administrator who took over from Sepp Blatter in 2016 following a corruption scandal, is expected to bow from office in four years.

Infantino is the ninth president of the world's football governing body, and the third Swiss to hold the position after Sepp Blatter (1998-2016), and Ernst Thommen who served in an interim capacity in 1961.

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