Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, 77, of France is reportedly considering a run for FIFA president against incumbent Gianni Infantino.
The BBC reported Tuesday that senior European soccer officials have been hoping for weeks that Wenger would enter the presidential race and that he is now seriously considering the possibility.
Although questions have been raised about whether Wenger could serve a full term because of his age, some supporters have expressed openness to the possibility of him stepping down before completing the four-year term if elected, according to the BBC.
However, the BBC added that people close to Wenger said he had not yet decided whether to run and that they still believed Infantino was likely to secure a fourth and final term in next year's election.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March at the organization's congress in Morocco. The deadline for candidates to register is Nov. 18.
Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega became the first to declare his candidacy last month, followed recently by Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association.
Infantino came under intense criticism in July after announcing plans to sell commercial rights to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. He subsequently withdrew the proposal amid strong opposition from the soccer community, leaving his position as FIFA president under threat.
Nevertheless, Infantino is widely expected to secure another term thanks to support from South America, Africa and Asia. He recently claimed to have the backing of an "overwhelming majority" of the global soccer community.
Wenger's entry into the race, however, could change the electoral landscape.
Wenger, who serves as FIFA's chief of global football development, is expected to receive support from UEFA, European soccer's governing body, which has increasingly opposed Infantino.
Having managed Arsenal for 22 years and established the club as a major force in English soccer, Wenger is also regarded as a highly respected and trusted figure in the international soccer community.
During his time at Arsenal, Wenger helped develop numerous African players. He has also supported expanding the World Cup to 48 teams to provide more opportunities for countries outside the traditional soccer powers.
As controversy grew over Infantino's proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, Wenger, previously regarded as an ally of the FIFA president, appeared to distance himself from Infantino.
"I was not involved in this strategic plan and first learned about the project through media reports," Wenger said.
"The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question. I am committed to soccer and firmly believe in an independent FIFA governed with transparency and integrity."
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)
