Rabat: FIFA President Gianni Infantino's future should be determined by the organization's 211 member associations in the upcoming election, according to Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe. Motsepe, who is also a FIFA vice president, provided these remarks during an interview with Sky News amidst growing calls for Infantino's resignation.

According to Anadolu Agency, Motsepe emphasized the importance of following the electoral process and allowing the member associations to express their confidence in Infantino through their votes. He stated, "If you want to take him out, go for elections; let the 211 member associations decide. Do that and the vote will express whether they've got confidence in him or not."

Motsepe's comments come as Infantino seeks re-election at the next FIFA presidential election, scheduled to occur during the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2027. Despite the mounting pressure, Motsepe suggests that the focus should remain on the upcoming elections. "You've got to be very careful. There are elections taking place next year," he said. "Shouldn't we allow that process to continue? And let the 211 members decide."

CAF's Executive Committee has previously expressed unanimous support for Infantino, acknowledging his contributions to African football. However, Infantino faces criticism over his initiative to introduce private investment into FIFA competitions, a proposal that was ultimately abandoned.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) accused FIFA of "deception" and a "fundamental breach of trust" in handling the proposal, leading to calls for Infantino's resignation. In response, FIFA apologized for the oversight, admitting that Council members and national associations should have been consulted earlier.

Motsepe noted that CAF had sought legal advice, which indicated no rules were breached as the proposal required member approval. Nonetheless, he acknowledged issues with the process, stating, "There's a lot that's problematic and negative that they have to fix. But he has apologised and said maybe there's a different way these things should have been done, but we also take advice."