Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has stated that Gianni Infantino can only be removed from the FIFA presidency thru the correct electoral process.
Motsepe, who is also a FIFA vise president, made the disclosure as pressure mounted from some of FIFA’s regional football bodies for Infantino to resign.
CAF is one of the confederations that are supporting Infantino to continue as FIFA president, it was reported.
The 56-year-old FIFA president has faced criticism after UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF accused him of “deception” over an alleged plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors.
Confederations have reportedly asked Infantino to resign and have opposed his intention to run for another term when FIFA holds its presidential election in March next year.
But Motsepe insisted that anyone looking to oust Infantino must abide by the regulations governing FIFA elections.
The president of the CAF told Sky News there was a clear process in the FIFA statutes to deal with disputes involving the president.
“If anybody has got any problem against anybody, whether it is Gianni, whether it is anybody else, follow the process, follow the FIFA process, simple as that,” he said.
Motsepe called on those opposed to Infantino’s leadership to take their complaints to the election rather than seeking to oust him outside the process.
He added: “If you want to take him out, go for elections; let the 211 member associations decide.”
The CAF president also appealed to football stakeholders to let the electoral process take its course.
“You must be very careful. There will be elections next year. “Shouldn’t we let that process run?” he asked.
Infantino has been president of FIFA since 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and again in 2023.
The latest controversy has, however, led to fresh tensions within the world football governing body, with some confederations questioning his leadership.