Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has defended FIFA President Gianni Infantino, insisting that any attempt to remove him from office must follow the organization’s established electoral process.
CAF is among the football confederations backing Infantino’s continued leadership of FIFA.
Motsepe’s comments come amid growing criticism of the 56-year-old FIFA president, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF accusing him of “deception” following an alleged attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors.
The three confederations have reportedly called for Infantino’s resignation and argued that he should not seek another term when FIFA elections are held in March next year.
However, Motsepe, who also serves as a FIFA vice president, said disagreements with Infantino should be addressed through the appropriate FIFA procedures rather than through calls for his removal outside the electoral process.
“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 told Sky News.
He added: “If you want to take him out, go for elections; let the 211 member associations decide.”
Motsepe also urged football stakeholders to allow the electoral process to take its course, stressing that FIFA’s 211 member associations should ultimately determine who leads the world football governing body.
“You’ve got to be very careful. There are elections taking place next year. Shouldn’t we allow that process to continue?” he said.
The comments highlight the growing divide among FIFA’s continental confederations over Infantino’s leadership as the 2027 presidential election approaches.
For Motsepe, however, the issue should be settled at the ballot box, with FIFA’s member associations given the final say on whether Infantino remains in office.
