Montagliani rules out Fifa presidency bid to seek Concacaf re-election

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 18:19 · Archive

Victor Montagliani has told Concacaf staff he will seek re-election as confederation president next year, ending speculation he might challenge Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency.

Victor Montagliani, the Canadian businessman who leads Concacaf, has told confederation staff he intends to seek re-election as president next year. The announcement effectively ends speculation that he might challenge Gianni Infantino for the top job at Fifa, a prospect that had drawn particular interest from European football associations seeking an alternative candidate.

Montagliani made his intentions clear at a town hall meeting of Concacaf staff late last month. Despite calls for him to stand against Infantino and concerns among some in world football about Fifa governance, he said he wants to continue serving members in the region. Concacaf's presidential election will take place in the first quarter of next year, before the Fifa vote scheduled for 18 March in Rabat.

Montagliani, 61, was elected to lead Concacaf ten years ago on a reforming mandate following the corruption scandal that led to the arrest of his predecessor, Jeffrey Webb, after an FBI investigation. Webb admitted he had taken 'bribes and kickbacks'. With Montagliani now committing to Concacaf, senior figures in world football believe Infantino may well be unopposed in his re-election bid, little more than two months after his Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal to sell World Cup commercial rights to a private equity firm had appeared to put his position in jeopardy.

How it is being reported

• Will anyone stop re-election of Infantino as Fifa president?Little more than two months since news broke of Infantino's Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, the chances appear slim that Gianni Infantino might be removed as president.BBC Sport · 9 Oct, 17:28
• Victor Montagliani eyes re-election at Concacaf that would rule out Fifa presidency runConfederation president clarifies his intentions to staff Canadian was eyed as potential rival to Gianni Infantino Victor Montagliani has told Concacaf staff he intends to stand for re-election as the confederation’s presidentnext year, which will rule him out of going up against Gianni Infantino for the top job at Fifa. The Canadian businessman is understood to have relayed the message to most of the 41 members of Concacaf, the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation. Continue reading...The Guardian · 8 Oct, 17:00

In this story: Victor Montagliani · Gianni Infantino · Concacaf · Fifa · Jeffrey Webb

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