Gianni Infantino: Fifa president to continue for four more years after no one challenges him

Infantino was the only candidate who possessed the required nomination letters from five of the 211 member federations

Infantino will continue as Fifa president (AP)

Gianni Infantino is set to be re-elected as Fifa president for another four years after emerging as the only candidate for election.

According to Fifa, Infantino was the only candidate who possessed the required nomination letters from five of the 211 member federations when the deadline expired at midnight on Tuesday in Zurich.

The 48-year-old Swiss lawyer had been widely expected to win unchallenged due to the pledges of support by most Fifa members, and that forecast has come true with Infantino’s main competitor, former Tottenham and Watford centre-back Ramon Vega, failing to muster enough support.

Infantino must now pass the eligibility and integrity checks for the election which takes places in Paris on June 5.

The 48-year-old was elected in February 2016, taking over during the term of Sepp Blatter after the 82-year-old was banned from the governing body for making a “disloyal payment” of £1.3 million Swiss Francs in 2011 to then Uefa president Michel Platini.

Infantino has so far overseen the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, Mexico and Canada will host, as well as the investment in women’s football and the implementation of VAR.

The former Uefa chief, who announced that he would run for re-election last June, is expected to attend the Uefa congress in Rome tomorrow.