President Infantino will seek re-election in March, FIFA says

Manchester, England (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to run for re-election despite mounting calls to resign from his role as head of global soccer's governing body. Following his controversial proposal to sell shares in the World Cup, which faced significant opposition, FIFA announced on Sunday that Infantino intends to contest the presidential election in 2027.

This decision remains unchanged, according to a FIFA spokesperson, who confirmed that Infantino will indeed seek another term through 2031. The November 18th deadline for candidates to enter the upcoming presidential race, four months before the vote, is set in stone. UEFA, the European soccer governing body, has been leading the calls for Infantino's departure, expressing a loss of confidence and previously threatening a boycott of FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.

Several national associations, such as the English Football Association, have also withdrawn their support for Infantino's re-election bid. When asked about his future during the Under-20 Women's World Cup opening in Poland on Saturday, Infantino avoided commenting, stating that there would be an appropriate time and place for such revelations.

FIFA has since apologized for the mishandling of the World Cup profit-sharing plan and pledged to prevent any recurrence. However, this has not alleviated the pressure on Infantino's position. UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against Infantino in Swiss courts, alleging potential financial mismanagement regarding the now-abandoned plan to sell future World Cup revenues to private investors.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also voiced his concerns last month, suggesting that Infantino is an unsuitable candidate to lead world soccer's governing body.