Frenchman Arsene Wenger, the former coach of Arsenal, is under increasing pressure from prominent figures in world football to run for the presidency of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) against Gianni Infantino, at a time when European moves are accelerating to find a competitor capable of threatening the current president's chances of retaining his position, before the nominations close on November 18.
According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, on Saturday, senior executives, including European figures, have been trying for at least six weeks to persuade Wenger to enter the race, amid a belief among Infantino’s most prominent opponents that the French coach possesses the qualities that make him a real competitor to the current president.
These moves are not limited to Wenger, as the newspaper revealed the presence of another candidate, whose identity has not been announced, who is receiving the attention of the parties opposing Infantino, who are seeking to decide their options during the next week, in light of the approaching deadline for submitting nominations.
Circles within the European Football Association (UEFA) are awaiting the position of the potential candidates, as information indicates that if Wenger and the unknown candidate decide not to run in the elections this week, the European Union will move to rally its support behind Japanese Kozo Tashima, president of the Japanese Football Association, who announced his intention to compete with Infantino.
A source familiar with the discussions described the situation as “still unpredictable,” referring to the continued ambiguity regarding the identity of the candidate behind whom the forces opposing the current president could unite.
Wenger, 77 years old, who currently holds the position of head of global football development at FIFA, faces an important personal decision, as he may see his advanced age as an obstacle to running in the race, despite his supporters’ belief that he possesses an almost unique combination of qualities that gives him a realistic chance to compete with Infantino.
Wenger had publicly criticized a controversial plan put forward by Infantino regarding commercial rights for the World Cup, before abandoning it, describing its cancellation last August as “absolutely necessary and beyond discussion.”
The French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Friday that Wenger will decide his position on the candidacy in the coming days, which increases the importance of next week in determining the shape of the electoral competition.
On the other hand, Infantino has already begun moves that appear closer to an early electoral campaign in preparation for next March's elections, benefiting from a wide support network within the continental and national federations.
On Friday, the Caribbean Football Confederation announced its support for Infantino to continue for a new term, following a visit by the FIFA President to the region, while expectations indicate that he will receive support from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, in addition to large sectors of Africa and South America.
These alliances may allow Infantino to get closer to the 106 votes he needs for re-election, unless the opposition parties succeed in forming a strong campaign during the remaining period.
As for Tashima, a member of the FIFA Council since 2015, he presents his candidacy as an attempt to transfer the values on which Japanese football was founded to international management, stressing that his participation “is not related to winning or losing, but rather to conveying the honest, sound and upright position that Japanese football has built to the world.”
However, according to available information, UEFA did not participate directly in pushing Tashima to run, despite the possibility that he would become the option that enjoys European support if another competitor more capable of mobilizing votes does not emerge.
Also prominent is Swiss Ramon Vega, the former Tottenham defender, who announced his intention to run in the elections, but doubts still surround his ability to secure the recommendation of five national federations out of the 211 member federations of FIFA, which is the minimum required to officially enter the race. Vega had tried to run for the position three previous times.
These moves come at a time when Infantino faces a new series of questions regarding his administrative and personal behavior during his presidency of the International Federation.
Documents that emerged on Wednesday revealed that the FIFA president’s office requested special VIP treatment for Infantino’s two daughters and their dogs during a personal trip from Miami airport to Qatar.
A FIFA spokesman responded that requests for facilities at the airport were submitted based on the advice of a former advisor to the president, explaining that these services are granted free of charge to the president of the federation by virtue of his position at the head of an organization, and that his family members are also entitled to request them in accordance with the procedures manual approved at Miami Airport, provided that each case is considered individually.
The International Federation called on the media to act responsibly when covering news related to children.
Investigations published by The Telegraph, along with a similar report in the New York Post, also raised questions about Infantino’s request from Carlos Cordero, who was one of the most prominent mediators between him and Donald Trump, to help obtain a work permit for a migrant domestic worker in his luxury home in Miami.
On Tuesday, FIFA categorically rejected any suggestion of violations related to the working conditions of the domestic worker.
These developments coincided with the announcement of Emilio Garcia Silvero, who served as chief official for legal affairs and compliance at FIFA during the past eight years, to leave his position on Friday, to begin a new professional phase in Madrid.
His departure came after Kevin Lamour, Executive Director of Operations at the International Federation, left his position last August, after he accused Infantino’s plan related to the World Cup of “misleading” the organization’s management.
These developments reinforce the belief of some of Infantino's opponents that new candidates may emerge in the coming days, and perhaps by Wednesday, after the newspaper revealed last month secret movements to prepare figures to run in a late election campaign.
With the closing of the nominations window approaching, the coming days seem decisive in determining whether Wenger will accept the challenge, whether the unknown candidate will emerge, or whether the opposition European powers will turn to supporting Tashima, in a race whose features may change before the final list of candidates is announced.
