Gianni Infantino's path to reelection as FIFA president looks increasingly clear after Concacaf president Victor Montagliani told colleagues he will seek to retain his position with the confederation next year, sources confirmed to ESPN. The move disqualifies him from any bid to replace Infantino at FIFA.
Montagliani, the former head of the Canadian Soccer Federation, had emerged as the most likely candidate to challenge Infantino following the controversy over the Swiss-Italian's plan to raise $20 billion through a partial sell-off of FIFA competitions, including the Men's World Cup. Infantino abandoned that plan within days of its announcement in July after widespread anger across the game, which included UEFA threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions in protest. UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation all publicly voiced opposition to Infantino at the time.
Despite FIFA vice president Montagliani being regarded as the strongest candidate to beat Infantino in next March's election, sources said the 61-year-old has now chosen to seek a final four-year term leading the confederation representing North, Central America and the Caribbean, telling fellow officials of his decision at a workshop earlier this month. News of his plans was first reported by The Guardian.
Sources told ESPN that Montagliani never formally agreed to run against Infantino, but his decision to stay at Concacaf will still be seen as a huge blow to those seeking to force Infantino out. His leading opponents, primarily UEFA, must now find a credible candidate before the Nov 18 deadline for candidacy submissions.
ESPN reported last week that Infantino was growing increasingly confident of securing the 106 votes needed from FIFA's 211 members to retain his position.
Ramon Vega, the former Switzerland and Tottenham defender, has announced his readiness to challenge Infantino, but the 55-year-old has not held an active role in football for at least two of the last five years, a requirement that will prevent him from standing as a candidate.
The Confederation of African Football endorsed Infantino shortly after Vega's announcement, and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said he will seek another term leading European football's governing body, a decision that removed one of the highest-profile figures from the list of potential challengers to Infantino.
