Gianni Infantino chosen for Kent bonfire effigy amid FIFA turmoil

Gianni Infantino has been selected as this year’s effigy for the annual bonfire in Edenbridge, Kent, according to the Daily Mirror ^[1]. The FIFA president joins former UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump on the list of notable figures to be burnt, with the society citing his "string of decisions" following the World Cup as the reason for his inclusion.

The choice comes as Infantino faces intense scrutiny over his relationship with Donald Trump. The Mirror reported that House Judiciary Committee Democrats launched an investigation in July into a "sustained campaign" by FIFA to curry favour with the US President ^[1]. This follows the Democrats' seizure of control in the US midterm elections, which has heightened questions about the FIFA chief's links to the Commander-in-Chief.

Central to the controversy is the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which proposed selling stakes in the commercial interests of the World Cup to private investors. The Times, as cited by the Mirror, reported that the leader of this investor group was Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner ^[1]. The plan was withdrawn in August after UEFA and other confederations threatened boycotts, yet UEFA has since stated it has "lost confidence" in Infantino.

Meanwhile, The Independent highlights growing concerns regarding Infantino’s eligibility for a fourth term ^[2]. Miguel Maduro, the former chair of FIFA’s governance committee, warns that a "climate of fear" may deter national associations from challenging his right to stand. Maduro argues that FIFA’s statutes clearly limit presidents to three terms, a rule FIFA Council controversially adjusted in 2022 by discounting Infantino’s first term.

Maduro, who was dismissed by Infantino in 2017, believes the checks and balances within FIFA are now less effective than under predecessor Sepp Blatter ^[2]. He pointed to reports of committee members receiving VIP trips as potential compromises to their independence. Despite these concerns, campaign group FairSquare has struggled to gain traction, with European associations hesitant to challenge Infantino after recently altering UEFA’s own statutes to allow Aleksander Ceferin to remain in power.

With the deadline for candidacies in next year’s FIFA presidential election just two weeks away, the political landscape remains tense. While Infantino appears to have strong support across Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America, the legal challenges could extend to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss Federal Tribunal if associations decide to act.