British newspaper The Guardian has reported that some member-associations of CAF have identified FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom as the man to replace President Gianni Infantino.
According to the newspaper, several football associations in Africa have held talks with FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, to investigate the Swede’s interest in running against Gianni Infantino in the next election.
The Guardian reported that 15 federations in Africa are said to be ready to turn their backs on Infantino when he seeks re-election as FIFA president in March and instead give their vote to Grafström.
“They think Matthias can group all the continents and then move on,” said a source with good insight into the situation among African federations, according to The Guardian.
Mattias Grafström criticised Infantino’s proposal to sell off shares of the World Cup in an internal memo to FIFA employees.
The Athletic later reported that the Swede voted in favour of the same proposal a day before the World Cup final.
Grafström has been FIFA Secretary General since 2024. He has been part of FIFA since 2016, the same year that Infantino was elected President.
