PSG Chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi Rules Himself Out of FIFA Presidential Race

Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi says he will not be the man to challenge Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential election, ruling himself out on Tuesday.

Al-Khelaifi also chairs the European Football Clubs group and sits on the UEFA executive committee. UEFA is leading efforts to remove Infantino after his failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. Al-Khelaifi is also a minister in the Qatari government, and Qatar has backed Infantino so far, so some thought he could win votes across Asia. He shut that talk down at a news conference after the EFC annual meeting in Copenhagen.

"I have zero interest in FIFA, zero agenda [or] ambition to be there," he said. "I don't think I'm the right guy for this position and I don't want to go actually, I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I think FIFA's not for me. Thank you."

The meeting of the 900-member group came at a shaky time for football politics. It has been two months since Infantino's multi-billion dollar plan for a FIFA subsidiary was revealed and then defeated within days. The deadline for candidates to stand against him is seven weeks away, and the election is on March 18 in Morocco.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is leading the push to end Infantino's time in charge, either before or at that vote. He spoke to club leaders for almost 10 minutes without naming Infantino, but his targets were clear. He also mentioned creating an award for a politician, a nod to Infantino's close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Football has no need for emperors," Ceferin said. "It's time to say enough. Rules bent when inconvenient. Those meant to have a say simply cut out. And football's future treated as just another bargaining chip."

Ceferin, a FIFA vice president, has ruled himself out of running. He was elected in 2016, like Infantino, and can seek a fourth and final term next year. Al-Khelaifi urged him to do it. "Football needs great leaders like you," he said. "We ask you to stand for president again next year."

Ceferin said in 2024 that he would leave in 2027, but he is likely to run unopposed when 55 member federations vote in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April.