2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress

The 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress was held at the Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland, on 26 February 2016. This special session of the FIFA Congress, called as a result of the 2015 FIFA corruption case,[1] included the passage of a major statutory reforms proposal as well as the election of Gianni Infantino to replace Sepp Blatter as the President of FIFA.[2]

FIFA presidential election, 2016
26 February 2016
 
Candidate Gianni Infantino Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa Prince Ali bin Hussein
Electoral vote
115 / 207
88 / 207
4 / 207
President before election

Sepp Blatter

 Next President

Gianni Infantino

Background
Main article: 2015 FIFA corruption case

Amid a major corruption scandal at FIFA, incumbent Sepp Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term as FIFA President during the 65th FIFA Congress on 29 May 2015, defeating Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan.[3] On 2 June, Blatter announced his intent to resign, remaining in office until an extraordinary FIFA Congress convened and elected a new president.[4] An extraordinary congress was set for 26 February 2016 by the FIFA Executive Committee in July, who also announced the deadlines for candidates and other necessary procedures.[5]

Reform package

A "landmark" reform package was overwhelmingly approved during the first part of the session by 179 of 207 members. Among the promised tenants is the dissolution of the Executive Committee, to be replaced by a larger FIFA Council selected by regional confederations, as well as imposed term limits on executive offices such as the presidency.[6]

Presidential election

Candidates

The deadline for candidates to formally present their nominations, with support of at least of five national federations, was 26 October 2015, 23:59 CET (22:59 GMT).[7]

Sepp Blatter was also a likely candidate, despite him saying that "I will not be a candidate for the election in 2016." Blatter previously said that he is "not resigning" before the announcement of the election date.[8]

On 28 October 2015, FIFA announced the names of the seven candidates to replace Sepp Blatter as its president.[9][10]

List of eligible candidates

On 9 November 2015, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee admitted and declared five candidates eligible to stand for election to the office of FIFA President.[11]

List of excluded candidates
  • Michel Platini, UEFA President; announced his bid on 29 July 2015;[17] suspended by FIFA on 8 October 2015;[18] excluded from the presidential race on 21 December 2015 due to corruption and accepting bribes.[19]
  • Musa Bility, President of the Liberia Football Association; announced his bid on 26 October 2015;[20] excluded from the presidential race on 12 November 2015 after failing an integrity check.[21]
  • David Nakhid, former Trinidad and Tobago captain; announced his bid on 16 October 2015;[22] excluded from the presidential race on 28 October 2015 for failing to receive the required five declarations of support.[9]

Previously interested in bidding

Results

The FIFA presidential election entered a second round of voting for the first time in 42 years after Gianni Infantino of Switzerland secured more backing than pre-vote favourite Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain in the first round, when a two-thirds majority was required to win. A simple majority of more than 50 per cent (104 votes) was sufficient for victory in the second round.

2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress
26 February 2016 – Zurich, Switzerland[2]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2
/ Gianni Infantino 88 115
Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa 85 88
Prince Ali Al Hussein 27 4
Jérôme Champagne 7 0
Tokyo Sexwale Withdrew

Reactions

The unexpected victory of Infantino over Salman, named a heavy favorite in the lead-up to the election,[34] surprised some observers;[35] a bloc in opposition to Salman is speculated to have tipped the second round vote in Infantino's favor.[36] United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati and other CONCACAF federations played a key role in Infantino's margin of victory, reportedly shifting their vote from Prince Ali to Infantino after a series of conversations between the two rounds of voting.[37]

The second round of voting was the first to be held since 1974.[38]

The day prior to the election, Sepp Blatter gave a press interview in which he said that he was leaving the office "a happy man".[39] Blatter later congratulated Infantino, but warned that he must stay vigilant and that in the job "friends become rare".[40]

References
  1. "Fifa announce presidential election will be held in February 2016". Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  2. "Gianni Infantino elected FIFA President" (Press release). FIFA. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  3. Gibson, Owen (29 May 2015). "Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president for fifth term". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  4. "Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal". BBC News. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  5. "FIFA Executive Committee sets presidential election for 26 February 2016 and fully supports roadmap for reform" (Press release). FIFA. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  6. "FIFA Congress approves landmark reforms" (Press release). FIFA. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  7. "Prince Ali bin al-Hussein labels Michel Platini's candidacy 'not good for Fifa'". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  8. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/i-wont-run-for-re-election-vows-sepp-blatter-343681.html
  9. "Seven candidates compete for Fifa presidency after David Nakhid excluded". Guardian. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. "Ad-hoc Electoral Committee receives seven candidatures for FIFA presidential election". FIFA.com. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. "Ad-hoc Electoral Committee admits five candidates for FIFA presidential election". FIFA.com. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  12. "Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein confirms intention to run for FIFA president". ESPN FC. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  13. "Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in FIFA race - report - ESPN FC". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  14. "Jerome Champagne intends to stand for Fifa presidency". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  15. I Seksvale želi na čelo FIFA
  16. "UEFA Executive Committee supports UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency". UEFA.com. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  17. "Michel Platini to stand for the FIFA presidency". UEFA. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  18. "Fifa: Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini & Jerome Valcke suspended". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  19. Gibson, Owen (21 December 2015). "Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini banned from football for eight years by Fifa". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  20. "Bility formally submits his bid for the Fifa presidency". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  21. "Fifa excludes Liberia's Musa Bility from presidency race after integrity test". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  22. "David Nakhid submits candidacy to stand in Fifa presidential election". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  23. "Chung Mong-joon says he will run for Fifa president and pledges new broom". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  24. "Valcke considering FIFA Presidential bid despite presiding over period of turmoil". Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  25. Owen Gibson. "Fifa powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad may hold key to Sepp Blatter's successor". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  26. "Football365 - Football News, Views, Gossip and much more..." Football365. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  27. Nick Akerman. "FIFA Presidential Election 2016 Date Announced: Expected Candidates and Reaction". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  28. Jack Lang (2 June 2015). "Sepp Blatter quits: Luis Figo calls for new era at FIFA following 'a good day for football'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  29. "Zico asks Brazil FA to support his run for FIFA president - ESPN FC". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  30. "Diego Maradona to stand as candidate for Fifa presidency, say reports". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  31. Jack Lang (2 June 2015). "David Ginola confirms he will stand for FIFA presidency after Sepp Blatter quits". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  32. "Nigeria's Segun Odegbami unveils Fifa presidential bid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  33. AM. "A proposal to the FIDE President". Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  34. Dunbar, Graham (25 February 2016). "Sheikh Salman heavy favorite to win FIFA election Friday". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  35. Broden, Sam (26 February 2016). "Gianni Infantino Wins FIFA Presidency in Second-Ballot Surge". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  36. Kennedy, Paul (26 February 2016). "Gianni Infantino upsets Skeikh Salman for FIFA president". Soccer America. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  37. Evans, Simon (26 February 2016). "Infantino triumphs with American help as FIFA blocks break down". Reuters. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  38. Dunbar, Graham (26 February 2016). "Soccer's world body elects Gianni Infantino as president". Associated Press. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  39. Broden, Sam; Ruiz, Rebecca R. (25 February 2016). "Sepp Blatter, on Eve of FIFA Election, Is Exiting 'a Happy Man'". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  40. "Blatter warns Infantino of FIFA backstabbers". The Jamaica Observer. Agence France-Presse. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
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