FIFA term limits petition targets Infantino eligibility

Human rights organization FairSquare has filed a formal petition asking FIFA to block President Gianni Infantino from running for another term, arguing he has already reached the maximum time allowed under FIFA’s statutes. The submission was sent to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, the body responsible for internal oversight and compliance.

FairSquare says FIFA’s rules cap the presidency at three terms. In its filing, the group argues that Infantino has already used up that limit once his initial time in office is counted as part of the three-term total.

Dispute centers on how FIFA counts the 2016 Dispute centers on how FIFA counts the 2016 start The disagreement hinges on how FIFA treats Infantino’s first period in office, which began in 2016 after Sepp Blatter resigned. FairSquare’s petition states that this first mandate should be included when calculating the three-term ceiling written into FIFA’s statutes.

FIFA has previously taken the position that the 2016 period should not be counted toward the term-limit total, describing it as an interrupted mandate. Critics cited in FairSquare’s filing argue that this interpretation is not sufficiently transparent and clashes with the reform principles introduced in 2016.

FairSquare frames its complaint as a governance and compliance question rather than an election-campaign dispute. The core issue, as presented in the petition, is whether a presidency that begins after a resignation should be treated as part of the statutory term tally, and how FIFA records and explains its reasoning when applying those limits.

Election calendar raises stakes for internal oversight President Election calendar raises stakes for internal oversight President Gianni Infantino The petition arrives as FIFA prepares for its next leadership contest for the 2027–31 cycle. FIFA has scheduled the election for March 18, 2027, in Morocco, increasing attention on eligibility questions and on the role of FIFA’s internal governance bodies. FairSquare is seeking an outcome through FIFA’s compliance pathway, not by lobbying around candidates. Under the approach described in the complaint, any decision on whether Infantino can stand would sit with FIFA entities responsible for governance oversight and compliance. As of the time of the complaint, the Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee had not issued a formal response. That leaves near-term process questions unresolved, including whether the committee will take up the petition and when it might make its position known. Separate governance friction adds pressure ahead of 2027 vote The filing also comes amid reported signs of widening dissent within football governance structures. According to the source material, the Scottish Football Association has publicly withdrawn its support for Infantino.

Separately, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF have recently called for a review of the president’s conduct linked to proposed financial restructuring. FairSquare’s petition is presented as distinct from those demands, while adding to broader questions focused on governance and accountability within FIFA.

Despite the criticism cited in the source material, Infantino is described as retaining significant backing from the African and South American confederations. How FIFA’s oversight bodies interpret and apply the term-limit provisions could therefore carry internal political weight as the March 2027 election approaches.