Miguel Maduro, the former chair of FIFA’s governance committee, has issued a stark warning that a pervasive “climate of fear” is preventing national associations from challenging Gianni Infantino’s eligibility for a fourth presidential term. Maduro, who was appointed in 2016 to oversee post-Blatter reforms, asserts that FIFA’s statutes explicitly impose a three-term limit on presidents. He argues that this legal clarity should empower member associations to block Infantino’s candidacy next year, yet he observes that institutional intimidation has silenced potential dissenters who might otherwise cite these rules.
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Infantino’s re-election bid appeared vulnerable during the summer following the revelation of a private investor plan for the World Cup, which was developed in secrecy without the knowledge of the FIFA Council or national associations. Despite this governance scandal, the president has since consolidated his power base, securing explicit support from the majority of associations across Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. This broad coalition suggests that the initial backlash has been neutralized, leaving Infantino well-positioned to retain his role despite ongoing scrutiny of his leadership style and decision-making processes.
Maduro’s intervention highlights the fragility of the governance reforms introduced after the corruption scandals that toppled Sepp Blatter. Having been dismissed by Infantino in 2017 after challenging the appointment of Russian official Vitaly Mutko, Maduro’s current criticism underscores the perceived regression in FIFA’s internal checks and balances. His claims suggest that the very mechanisms designed to ensure transparency and accountability have been undermined, creating an environment where legal challenges to the presidency are stifled by fear of reprisal rather than resolved through due process.
Source: The Independent Sport
