Patrice Motsepe, the influential president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has firmly asserted that any attempt to remove FIFA President Gianni Infantino from his position must adhere strictly to the established electoral procedures. Motsepe, who also holds the significant role of FIFA vice president, explicitly rejected the recent appeals made by three major continental football confederations – UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia), and CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean) – for the immediate dismissal of the 56-year-old Infantino.
The backdrop to these calls for Infantino’s resignation stems from significant criticism leveled against him, particularly concerning a perceived failed endeavor to secure lucrative deals by selling stakes in the World Cup to investors. This business misstep has evidently prompted these three continental federations to publicly demand his resignation, urging him to step aside voluntarily before the upcoming March election.However, Motsepe, in a candid interview with Sky News, strongly defended the existing governance framework within FIFA. He emphasized the importance of following due process, stating, “If anybody has got any problem against anybody, whether it’s Gianni, whether it is anybody else, follow the process, follow the FIFA process, simple as that.” The South African football administrator further elaborated on his stance, arguing that the ultimate decision regarding Infantino’s future as FIFA president should rest with the collective voice of the 211 FIFA member associations.
“If you want to take him out, go for elections; let the 211 member associations decide,” Motsepe conveyed to the broadcaster.He also raised a pertinent question regarding the rationale behind circumventing the scheduled electoral timeline. “You’ve got to be very careful,” he cautioned. “There are elections taking place next year.
Shouldn’t we allow that process to continue?” he inquired, highlighting the principle of allowing democratic processes to unfold as planned.It is noteworthy that CAF, under Motsepe’s leadership, remains one of the key continental bodies that continues to support Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president. Consequently, the African football federation has conspicuously abstained from joining the chorus of demands for his removal initiated by its European, Asian, and North American counterparts.
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