McAllister says UEFA is seeking a credible challenger to Infantino

WHAT MCALLISTER SAID

In a Reuters interview at the World Football Summit in Madrid on 16 September, UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister said UEFA remained on course to find a credible challenger to Gianni Infantino for the FIFA election scheduled for March 2027.

She said the eventual candidate did not have to be European, but should be capable of uniting football's confederations and standing on a programme of governance reform. She identified accountability, transparency, recognition of conflicts of interest, whistleblower protection and more diverse leadership as priorities.

Sources for this section1

THE CANDIDATE REMAINS OPEN

McAllister did not name a challenger. Reuters reported that nominations had not yet opened and that UEFA would not insist on a European candidate if a credible reform candidate emerged from another confederation. Her account does not establish a confirmed candidacy, a common voting pledge by UEFA associations, support from every confederation or an election majority.

Sources for this section1

RESPONSE AT THE TIME OF REPORTING

Reuters said neither FIFA nor Infantino responded immediately to its request for comment. Infantino's previously announced intention to seek another term remains recorded separately; this interview does not determine the nomination process or the election result.

Sources for this section1