Baku: FIFA has declared it will not support or tolerate any efforts to conduct a presidential election outside its established statutes, as debates over Gianni Infantino's leadership intensify ahead of his bid for a fourth term. According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, FIFA issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to democratic procedures and governance frameworks. The organization affirmed that Infantino was "democratically elected by FIFA's Member Associations" and continues to serve with their mandate. The statement also referenced recent endorsements from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), along with discussions with global member associations and confederations. FIFA accused unnamed individuals of attempting to undermine its leadership through allegations and misinformation that they could not achieve through democratic processes. The statement criticized recent reports of unsubstantiated claims against FIFA and its President, u rging that speculation should not be mistaken for fact. The statement was a response to reports by The Daily Telegraph about payments made by UEFA to a former employee during Infantino's previous tenure. Infantino has denied these allegations, and FIFA has dismissed them as baseless. The controversy has heightened divisions over Infantino's leadership as the FIFA Congress in Morocco approaches with no clear challenger. UEFA has expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino, while the Norwegian Football Federation President called for his resignation. Despite this, Infantino maintains significant support among FIFA's 211 member associations. CAF and CONMEBOL have shown strong backing for him, and Mexico's football federation has also expressed support. FIFA defended Infantino's contributions to football, highlighting his over 30 years of dedication to the sport and efforts to expand access and opportunities. FIFA emphasized that while it welcomes scrutiny, it does not condone distortion of facts or unsubstant iated allegations. FIFA reiterated its responsibility to its 211 Member Associations and to promoting football globally, stating it will remain focused on strengthening the organization and supporting its members.