FIFA President Gianni Infantino is actively lobbying heads of state for support as he campaigns for re-election next year. He is expected to appear at the United Nations general assembly this week in New York as part of his efforts.
Infantino has been travelling globally on a private jet provided by Qatar Airways, a FIFA sponsor, since the abandonment of FIFA's World Cup sell-off plan last month. His travels have included visits to countries such as Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Kyrgyzstan, often coinciding with the approval of funding for development projects.
Despite calls for him to step down from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, Infantino currently faces no declared opponents. Sources involved in efforts to remove him reportedly believe they are running out of hope of finding a viable candidate.
UEFA is pursuing legal avenues to challenge Infantino, having lodged a 56-page document with US state courts last month, accusing him of "criminal mismanagement" and seeking disclosure of documents related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise sale plan. FIFA has responded by filing a submission in New York to block the discovery process, accusing UEFA of a smear campaign.