McAllister says UEFA still on track for Infantino challenger as reform pressure builds

UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister says European football remains united in seeking an alternative to Gianni Infantino ahead of the March 2027 FIFA presidential election, with the eventual candidate expected to campaign on wider governance reform rather than nationality or regional interests.McAllister said UEFA was working across several fronts and wanted a candidate capable of attracting support beyond Europe and implementing changes around accountability, transparency, conflicts of interest, whistleblower protection and leadership diversity.McAllister said: “There’s lots of prongs to any campaign to change something. There are tactics that you need to follow, but I feel very reassured that we’re on track, that we will try to find a candidate that can unite all of the confederations.“And that candidate would then stand on a manifesto of reform and modernisation. You don’t fight an election unless you can win that election.”The comments came as German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf significantly hardened his position towards Infantino, calling for an end to what he described as the current FIFA system.Neuendorf said: “It is important that this Infantino system is also brought to an end. The relationship of trust with Gianni Infantino, with this FIFA leadership, is of course shattered.”Germany has not formally withdrawn support in the same way as several other European federations, but Neuendorf said UEFA members will hold further discussions in Berlin on October 8 and 9 and are examining how FIFA’s governance structure could be changed more permanently.The renewed pressure follows the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprise, Infantino’s proposal to sell up to 20% of commercial interests connected to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.FIFA has now confirmed that a review of the abandoned proposal will be presented to its 37-member Council after Danish federation president Jesper Møller criticised the lack of answers provided to FIFA’s Legal Committee.The FFE dispute has increasingly developed into a broader debate over how major commercial decisions are made within FIFA and how much authority should sit with the presidency.Infantino has confirmed that he intends to seek another term on March 18, while his opponents face a November 18 deadline to nominate a challenger. McAllister said UEFA would not insist on a European candidate, with the focus instead on finding someone capable of carrying a wider reform programme.