Aleksander Ceferin has confirmed he will not stand against Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency, despite mounting speculation that the Uefa chief was preparing a leadership bid amid growing turmoil at football's world governing body.
Speaking on The Rest is Politics podcast, the 58-year-old Ceferin explained his decision to stay out of the race, insisting his focus remains on European football's governing body.
"I'm not interested because of two reasons," Ceferin said. "One reason is that I love Uefa and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point... it's time to also enjoy life a bit. And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I'm not interested in the position."
Infantino has faced escalating criticism over his handling of plans to bring in private investment for Fifa's flagship tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups. Three of football's continental confederations - Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation - have accused the Fifa president of "deception" over the scheme, which was ultimately abandoned. Uefa has gone as far as threatening to boycott Fifa competitions in protest.
Ceferin believes Infantino now faces a stark choice ahead of the next Fifa Congress in Morocco this March: step aside voluntarily or fight to keep his job against a rival candidate.
"Things are changing every day," Ceferin said. "Every day there are different discussions. I didn't speak with him. But there are two options. One option is that he realises that he doesn't have the support, and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches. And the second option that he goes to to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don't know yet who."
Ceferin also revealed he has had no contact with Infantino since the controversy erupted, underlining the depth of the rift between the two football administrators, who both previously worked together at Uefa before Infantino moved on to lead Fifa.
The pressure on Infantino has been building steadily, with all four British home nations plus the Republic of Ireland withdrawing their backing for him following the fallout from the private investment plan. However, the Fifa president still appears to retain support from the African and South American confederations, CAF and Conmebol respectively, suggesting any leadership battle would be closely contested.
Infantino himself has so far avoided directly addressing questions about his future. While in the Dominican Republic recently, he gave an unusual response when asked by a Sky News reporter - who, like Infantino, is bald - whether he planned to resign, quipping "see you at the hairdressers."
Ceferin also pushed back against suggestions that Fifa has painted Uefa's opposition as a case of wealthy European self-interest working against smaller footballing nations.
"What I hear is that they (Fifa) play on, you know, 'arrogant Europe is against us'," Ceferin said. "'They have enough money, but I help the small and the poor', and stuff like that. But I think someone should remind him that he is a European, and that he was supported by Uefa, which he forgot."
Infantino rose to the Fifa presidency in 2016 after serving as Uefa's secretary general, succeeding Sepp Blatter with strong backing from European football at the time. Whether that support can be salvaged before March's Congress in Morocco remains to be seen, with Ceferin's comments suggesting the coming months could bring a genuine contest for Fifa's top job for the first time in years.
Based on reporting from The Independent.