Ceferin rebukes Infantino as Khelaifi rules out Fifa bid

Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin criticised Fifa president Gianni Infantino at a European Football Clubs (EFC) assembly in Copenhagen on Tuesday, saying “football has no need for emperors”. Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi, meanwhile, ruled out standing against Infantino in next year’s Fifa presidential election.

The remarks came amid a dispute over Fifa’s plans for a commercial subsidiary to run major events, including the World Cup and Club World Cup. Ceferin told delegates that football’s leaders were custodians of the game, not its owners.

Dispute over commercial plans

Uefa has opposed the proposed subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise, since the plans emerged in late July. The European governing body said it would consider boycotting Fifa-organised tournaments, but suspended that threat after receiving written assurances in late August that Fifa would not revive plans to sell stakes to private investors.

Uefa has also gone to a court in Florida seeking documents related to the failed plan. It aims to gather evidence for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland, where both governing bodies are based. Fifa has accused Uefa of a “misinformation campaign” and of trying to “influence” next year’s presidential election.

Ceferin invokes the emperor

Addressing EFC delegates, Ceferin referred to The Emperor’s New Clothes, the Hans Christian Andersen tale in which a child points out that the emperor is naked. “Perhaps the moral of this story is that convenient words cannot change uncomfortable realities,” he said.

“My friends, I think it is time to say ‘enough’,” Ceferin added. Infantino was not in attendance, although Fifa general secretary Mattias Grafstrom was in the room.

Ceferin said money could help football grow but should not determine what the game gives up. “Europe should make no apology for saying so,” he told delegates.

Election questions remain

Al-Khelaifi, who has chaired EFC since 2021 and sits on the Uefa Executive Committee through that role, rejected suggestions that he could challenge Infantino. The Fifa election is scheduled for March at its congress in Rabat, and candidates have until 18 November to submit nominations.

“I have zero interest in FIFA, zero ambition to be there,” al-Khelaifi told reporters. He said he was enjoying his current work and added: “Fifa is not for me.”

Numerous leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino’s re-election bid. Al-Khelaifi also backed Ceferin to seek another term as Uefa president next year, although Ceferin has previously indicated that he would not stand again when his current term ends.