A human rights organization, FairSquare, has called on FIFA to rule that Gianni Infantino is ineligible to run for another term as the football governing body’s president, claiming he has already served the maximum three terms allowed under FIFA’s statutes.

FIFA Presidents Limited to Three Terms

FIFA rules limit presidents to three terms in office. However, in 2022, Infantino successfully argued that his initial term, which began in 2016 after Sepp Blatter’s resignation, should not count toward the limit because it completed an interrupted mandate.

According to FairSquare’s Director Nicholas McGeehan, this interpretation is inconsistent with FIFA’s statutes and sets a dangerous precedent. “The complaint we have filed provides clear evidence that this is a clear breach of the rules,” McGeehan told Reuters.

Scrutiny Over Re-Election Bid

Infantino is facing increasing scrutiny ahead of the FIFA Congress in March 2027, where he is expected to seek re-election for the 2027-31 cycle. The vote is scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18.

Earlier this month, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF called for a review of Infantino’s conduct after FIFA proposed creating a $20bn subsidiary linked to its competitions to attract private investment. Insiders told Reuters the three confederations saw the letter as an opportunity for Infantino to step down gracefully.

Several national associations have also raised concerns. Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell told the BBC that his federation would not support Infantino’s re-election.

Infantino, however, still has the backing of the African and South American confederations.

Questions Raised About 2022 Ruling

FairSquare has also questioned the transparency of the 2022 ruling, noting that the committee’s reasoning was never made public. McGeehan said the timing of the decision,announced two days before the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup—suggests it was made without a solid basis.

“The fact they didn’t provide any reasoning to support this claim suggests they knew full well there was no basis to Infantino’s first term,” McGeehan said.

The letter to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC) was drafted with assistance from Miguel Maduro, the former head of FIFA’s independent Governance and Review Committee. In a statement, Maduro said FIFA cannot disregard its own rules. “The principle of term limits was a fundamental aspect of the 2016 reform,” he said. “Trying to carve out an exception for Mr. Infantino reveals a resistance to the principle of term limits.”