FIFA Crisis: Motsepe Reveals ‘Easiest’ Way To Unseat Infantino As President

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has said Gianni Infantino can only be removed as FIFA president through the organisation’s established electoral process.

Motsepe, who also serves as a FIFA vice president, made the position known amid growing calls from some regional football bodies for Infantino to resign.

CAF is among the confederations supporting Infantino’s continued leadership of FIFA.

The 56-year-old FIFA president has faced increasing pressure after UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF accused him of “deception” over an alleged proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors.

The confederations have reportedly called for Infantino’s resignation and opposed his bid for another term when the FIFA presidential election takes place in March next year.

Motsepe, however, insisted that anyone seeking to remove Infantino must adhere to the rules governing FIFA elections.

Speaking to Sky News, the CAF president said FIFA’s statutes provide a clear mechanism for resolving disagreements involving the organisation’s president.

“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,” Motsepe said.

He urged those opposed to Infantino’s leadership to take their concerns to the ballot rather than attempting to remove him outside the established process.

“If you want to take him out, go for elections; let the 211 member associations decide,” he added.

The CAF president also called on football stakeholders to allow the electoral process to run its course.

“You’ve got to be very careful. There are elections taking place next year. Shouldn’t we allow that process to continue?” he asked.

Infantino has served as FIFA president since 2016. He was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and secured another term in 2023.

The latest dispute has nevertheless intensified tensions within global football’s governing body, with some confederations raising fresh questions about Infantino’s leadership and seeking changes at the top.