Twenty-four hours of turmoil - what lies ahead for Fifa and Infantino under pressure?

The phrase 'a week is a long time in politics' is particularly apt in football politics. Just recently, Gianni Infantino was firmly established as Fifa president, holding the most powerful position in football. Yet, after his attempt to secure private investment deals without consulting others, Infantino's status has become uncertain. Uefa, a vocal critic, has played its trump card by threatening a boycott of Fifa competitions, including the World Cup, likely seeing this as its best opportunity to oust Infantino. However, Uefa is not the only unhappy organization; Concacaf, which worked closely with Infantino on the 2026 World Cup, is now calling for a comprehensive review of Fifa's leadership. Additionally, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has shown a lack of support for Infantino. His situation worsened with the departure of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour. Uefa further emphasized its distrust by stating it has lost confidence in Infantino's leadership following his retraction. With the battle lines now clear, the potential outcomes remain to be seen. What could happen next? What are the possible ways to remove Infantino from his position? The most expedient method would be for the Swiss authorities to intervene, prompting his resignation, similar to what occurred with his predecessor Sepp Blatter in 2015. However, Infantino still enjoys support and might attempt to hold out until his potential re-election in March. What alternative avenues exist for removing him? The Fifa Council could potentially force Infantino's hand by convening an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of its 37 members to call for such a gathering. Although Uefa has nine members on the council, there are doubts about gathering the necessary 19 votes. If the threshold is met, the meeting would have to take place within two weeks, and the council could pressure Infantino to resign, although he could refuse. Further pressure would mount if an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations were convened, requiring a written request from one-fifth of the associations. Uefa, with 55 member nations, could unilaterally trigger this process, but success would be far from guaranteed. A vote of no confidence would require 106 votes, essentially turning it into a de facto election. Given the voting breakdown, Uefa's 55 votes would need to be supplemented by other regions. Although 136 countries rejected the investment plan, this does not automatically translate to support for Infantino's removal. Some countries, like Qatar, have publicly backed him, while others, such as Mexico, have distanced themselves from criticism. With the deadline for announcing candidacy for the March election approaching, finding a suitable opponent for Infantino remains a challenge. Potential successors to Infantino may include individuals who can unify the FIFA membership if UEFA and Infantino's critics opt for the election path. Given UEFA's strong opposition to Infantino, a European candidate may face challenges in garnering global support. A candidate with the ability to secure backing from Concacaf, Africa, and Asia would be essential. Concacaf President Victor Montagliani appears to be a plausible candidate, having been elected in 2016 on a platform of governance reform. With experience as a seasoned administrator and former president of Canada Soccer, Montagliani played a pivotal role in the 2026 World Cup and is proficient in multiple languages. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, could also be considered, given his instrumental role in the AFC's stance against Infantino's leadership. Nasser Al-Khelaifi might be another contender, although his candidacy seems unlikely due to his apparent disinterest and Qatar's support for Infantino. Who might potentially succeed Infantino? How probable is it that Infantino will be removed from power? Typically, Infantino's position would be untenable in most businesses. Yet, football's unique dynamics apply. Recall that Blatter's resignation in 2015 followed a re-election when he had no other options amidst corruption allegations. Infantino may opt to contest the allegations. He stated his aim to bring all stakeholders together soon. Showing remorse could alleviate some pressure. Encouragingly for Infantino, Morocco and Egypt have voiced their support after Qatar. He might be banking on gradually building a strong backing among member associations to fend off a no-confidence vote. Given his historical support, this strategy isn't baseless. As a no-confidence vote is still months away, Infantino can attempt to undo some of the harm. Uefa's task is to corner Infantino into a position where resignation becomes the only viable option. Sustained criticism from football federations worldwide is key. However, major sponsors distancing themselves would significantly exacerbate Infantino's woes. In 2015, several high-profile sponsors pulled out during the Fifa scandal. There's currently no evidence of sponsors abandoning ship, but the situation remains fluid.