Al-Khelaifi Rejects FIFA Presidential Ambitions During EFC Meeting

Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated he has 'zero interest' in seeking the FIFA presidency during a news conference in Copenhagen.

Paris Saint-Germain president and European Football Clubs (EFC) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi announced Tuesday he will not challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. Speaking at a news conference following the EFC annual meeting in Copenhagen, Al-Khelaifi stated he has "zero agenda" for the role and intends to remain in his current positions. The deadline for candidates to enter the race for the March 18 election in Morocco is seven weeks away.

Al-Khelaifi, who serves as a minister in the Qatari government and sits on the UEFA executive committee, voiced his support for UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to seek a fourth term in 2027. During the 900-member club meeting, Ceferin criticized the current FIFA leadership, specifically referencing a defeated plan to sell stakes in World Cup profits to private investors. While Ceferin has also ruled himself out of the FIFA presidential race, he is expected to run unopposed for the UEFA presidency in April during a vote in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The search for a challenger to Infantino follows a period of tension regarding a multi-billion dollar FIFA subsidiary plan that was defeated two months ago. Despite his potential appeal to Asian voters as a representative of 2022 World Cup host Qatar, Al-Khelaifi insisted he is not the right person for the governing body's top job. The PSG boss currently oversees the reigning Champions League title holders.