Nasser Al Khelaifi denies FIFA presidential ambitions amid Infantino controversy
Paris Saint‑Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi said through a spokesperson that he has "no ambition, no intention and no interest" in running for FIFA president in the 2027 election and will continue to support football institutions discreetly and constructively. His denial comes as FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces mounting internal dissent over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which would create a commercial company valued at about $20 billion and sell up to 20 % of the World Cup commercial rights for roughly $4.2 billion. The plan has triggered strong opposition from UEFA, which has warned of a possible boycott of FIFA events, and criticism from senior officials such as chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who called it a "one‑man initiative," and former FIFA general secretary Carlos Cordeiro, who resigned in protest. Speculation about alternative candidates has also circulated, including Polish club owner Dariusz Mioduski and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, but Al Khelaifi confirmed he will not enter the race.
Entities: European Club Association · FIFA · Gianni Infantino · Nasser Al Khelaifi · Nasser Al‑Khelaïfi · Paris Saint‑Germain · UEFA · Victor Montagliani
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Carlos Cordeiro resigned from his FIFA position in protest of the Forward Enterprise plan. (news reports)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Victor Montagliani is considering a candidacy for FIFA president. (TalkSport report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Dariusz Mioduski is rumored as a potential candidate for FIFA presidency. (Polish media reports)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan proposes creating a commercial company valued at about $20 billion and selling up to 20 % of World Cup commercial rights for roughly $4.2 billion. (FIFA proposal details)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, publicly criticized the Forward Enterprise plan as a 'one‑man initiative'. (Lamour’s comments)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Gianni Infantino is the current FIFA president facing pressure over the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. (multiple news reports)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Nasser Al Khelaifi denied any ambition, intention, or interest to run for FIFA president in 2027. (Al Khelaifi’s spokesperson)
- [● 2 SOURCES] UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA events if the Forward Enterprise plan proceeds. (UEFA statements reported in news)