A human rights group has formally challenged Gianni Infantino’s eligibility to run for a fourth term as FIFA president, citing a disputed 2022 ruling that allowed his first tenure to be excluded from term limits. The complaint, filed with FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, argues the move violates the organization’s statutes and sets a dangerous precedent.
FairSquare, a human rights organization, has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC), urging the body to block Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid over allegations of term-limit violations. The group claims Infantino has already served the maximum three terms under FIFA’s statutes, a stance supported by a detailed legal analysis of the organization’s rules. This challenge comes as Infantino prepares to seek a fourth term, which would extend his leadership through 2031.
The Legal Challenge to Infantino’s Eligibility
The core of FairSquare’s argument rests on a 2022 decision by FIFA’s GACC, which ruled that Infantino’s first term as president—officially from 2016 to 2019—should not count toward the three-term limit. This ruling, which allowed Infantino to run for re-election in 2022, is now being contested as a breach of FIFA’s own statutes. The complaint we have filed provides clear evidence that this is a clear breach of the rules and one that sets a very dangerous precedent,
said FairSquare Director Nicholas McGeehan, citing a statement to Reuters.
FairSquare’s letter to the GACC, obtained by The Athletic, explicitly states that FIFA’s statutes do not permit the exclusion of a term based on its duration or the type of congress at which it was elected. The statutes explicitly state that ‘no person may serve as President for more than three terms of office’ without making any distinction as to those terms of office,
the group wrote. The organization also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the 2022 ruling, noting that the GACC never published its reasoning. “The fact they didn’t provide any reasoning to support this claim, and that they announced the apparent decision two days before the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, suggests that they knew full well that there was no basis to discount Infantino’s first term,” McGeehan said.
The dispute traces back to Infantino’s initial election in 2016, following Sepp Blatter’s resignation. While FIFA’s statutes typically limit presidents to three terms, Infantino successfully argued that his first term was an interrupted mandate
and therefore should not count. This interpretation, which allowed him to run for re-election in 2022, is now being challenged as a loophole that undermines the integrity of FIFA’s governance reforms. Trying to carve out an exception to such a rule for Mr. Infantino reveals both a resistance to the principle of term limits and how some at FIFA conceive of rules not as rules but as obstacles to be circumvented,
said Miguel Maduro, former head of FIFA’s independent Governance and Review Committee.
Confederations Condemn FIFA’s Transparency
The controversy has drawn widespread criticism from football confederations and national associations. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have all called for a review of Infantino’s conduct after FIFA proposed creating a $20bn subsidiary linked to its competitions. The principle of term limits was a fundamental aspect of the 2016 reform aimed at limiting power,
Maduro said. The rule introduced is clear: no FIFA President can serve more than three terms of office.
Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell publicly stated his federation would not support Infantino’s re-election, adding to the growing pressure on the FIFA president. Meanwhile, the African and South American confederations remain his strongest backers. The tension highlights a deepening rift within global football governance, with critics accusing FIFA of prioritizing financial expansion over democratic accountability.
FairSquare’s complaint also references a 2016 reform initiative aimed at curbing corruption and increasing transparency. The group argued that the current dispute exposes weaknesses in FIFA’s institutional structures.
What Comes Next for FIFA’s Leadership?
The outcome of FairSquare’s complaint could determine Infantino’s future in FIFA. The GACC has yet to respond publicly, but the organization’s decision to file the complaint signals a significant escalation in the battle over governance reforms. If the GACC upholds the 2022 ruling, Infantino’s re-election bid may proceed unimpeded. However, if the committee reverses its stance, it could force a restructuring of FIFA’s leadership timeline, potentially triggering a leadership crisis.
The next major milestone is the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 18, 2027, where Infantino is expected to formally announce his candidacy. The vote will take place in Morocco, with the outcome likely to shape the future of global football governance. Meanwhile, calls for reform continue to grow, with critics urging FIFA to address systemic issues before the next election.
As the debate over term limits and transparency intensifies, the coming months will test FIFA’s commitment to the reforms it championed in 2016. For now, the organization faces a critical juncture: whether to uphold its stated principles or risk further eroding trust among its members and the global football community.
