Infantino on the brink? Who could replace him if he goes?

What the report says

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure after his proposal involving World Cup commercial stakes drew criticism from major football bodies and political figures, according to BBC Sport Football. The article says Uefa has threatened a boycott of Fifa competitions, while Concacaf and the AFC also issued sharp objections. It adds that some within Concacaf have lost confidence in his leadership, and that a senior Fifa administrator, Kevin Lamour, said the organisation’s own management had been misled about the project. Carlos Cordeiro, a special adviser to Infantino and a White House World Cup task force appointee, has also resigned.

BBC Sport says the crisis has prompted discussion about whether Infantino, who has led Fifa since 2016 and was expected to seek another unopposed term next March, could be forced out or weakened before the next election. Former officials quoted by the broadcaster noted that Fifa’s politics often depend on support from national associations, meaning his position may still survive if enough members stay behind him.

The article also examines possible successors. It points to Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, PSG president and European Football Clubs chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom. BBC Sport notes that each would face different political and practical obstacles, and that the next Fifa president is due to be elected at the organisation’s Congress in Morocco next March.