UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out replacing Gianni Infantino but warned that the embattled FIFA president must resign or face a rival candidate at the organisation’s next election.
Infantino is under mounting pressure following his abandoned proposal to attract private investment into FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.
UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while several continental and national football federations have withdrawn their support for the 56-year-old.
However, Ceferin insists he has no interest in succeeding Infantino.
“I’m not interested because of two reasons,” the 58-year-old Slovenian told The Rest Is Politics podcast on Monday.
“One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point, it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.
“And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”
Ceferin has been a vocal critic of Infantino since the FIFA president announced plans to seek private investment in a company that would operate the governing body’s tournaments.
He believes Infantino’s once-secure position is now under serious threat ahead of the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March.
Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, received broad support from European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016. Ceferin, however, believes the current political landscape is markedly different.
The UEFA chief also revealed that he has not spoken to Infantino since the controversy began.
“There are two options,” Ceferin said.
“One option is that he realises that he doesn’t have the support, and that’s not only the political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of the football community, the fans, the players, former players and coaches.
“And the second option is that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who.”
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa are considered among the most likely candidates to challenge Infantino.
Infantino spent the weekend in the Dominican Republic meeting local and regional football officials, despite reports that Montagliani had asked him to stay away from a youth tournament in the country.
In a video released by FIFA on Sunday, Infantino appeared to address the growing controversy surrounding his leadership.
“It’s important to engage, to have a dialogue, to express views and opinions,” he said.
“A lot has been happening in the last few weeks, and it’s important that you hear, you listen, and you’re able to also express what your feelings are.
“So I think, overall, positive. Very, very happy with all the support I get here.”
Infantino must now decide whether to step aside or seek another term in March, when he could face the first serious challenge to his FIFA presidency.
