'Be very careful': FIFA VP warns those trying to oust Gianni Infantino

The leader of African football has told Sky News the FIFA election is the way to challenge Gianni Infantino's position – cautioning against moves to force out the embattled president early.

Patrice Motsepe is the first FIFA vice president to give an interview since the controversy erupted over Mr Infantino trying to sell off shares in the World Cup to private investors.

"If anybody has got any problem against anybody, whether it's Gianni, whether it is anybody else, follow the process, follow the FIFA process, simple as that," Mr Motsepe said in an exclusive interview.

"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."

Mr Motsepe spoke after flying to Salzburg to hold talks with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who has been leading the charge for Mr Infantino's departure over the secret scheme.

UEFA joined forces with the Asian and North American confederations this week, decrying "deception" and a "breach of trust" by Mr Infantino.

Sky News understands the joint letter was an attempt to force Mr Infantino into resigning before the FIFA election in March.

"You've got to be very careful. There are elections taking place next year," Mr Motsepe said.

"Shouldn't we allow that process to continue? And let the 211 members decide."

Mr Motsepe, a South African tycoon, did not directly criticise Mr Infantino, nor did he offer clear backing.

"I've heard so many stories about various issues and am careful to pass judgement on anything," the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president said.

"Everybody has a right to be heard. Let's have a hearing, and a proper forum, a proceeding, a court, or whatever it is, or a tribunal … everybody is entitled to fair judgement, to fair treatment."

He said CAF had consulted lawyers and claimed there was no breach of rules over the secret World Cup sell-off talks, because the proposals would be submitted to members for final approval.

"There's a lot that's problematic and negative that they have to fix," Mr Motsepe said.

"But he has apologised and said maybe there's a different way these things should have been done, but we also take advice."

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FIFA has a one-member, one-vote system in the presidential election.

UEFA's 55 members are said to be aligned against Mr Infantino's plans, as well as 34 voters from the CONCACAF region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

It is unclear how many of the 47 Asian voters would turn on him even as CAF signed the joint statement this week expressing concern about Mr Infantino's leadership.

So Africa's 54 votes could be key to determining who wins.

"There are many times when I want the candidate to win and doesn't win," Mr Motsepe said.

"Whoever wins, I've got to support him.

"I get too many telephone calls from too many member associations worldwide. And I like to focus on the unity, the cooperation.

"How do we continue to develop and grow football in the midst of the challenges we have? Deal with those challenges. We will resolve them and we'll move on."

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Be very careful': FIFA VP warns those trying to oust Gianni Infantino