Suspensions, electoral interference and threats. Somali FA elections prove a window into Infantino’s FIFA leadership

October 5 – Concerning is mounting in Somali football over the upcoming Somali Football Federation (SFF) elections and FIFA’s refusal to date to intervene to ensure transparent and fair elections.

At the centre of the growing controversy is SFF president Ali Abdi Mohamed (pictured). Abdi Mohamed is a vocal and staunch supporter of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and during his time as SFF president has benefitted considerably and financially from the relationship. With Infantino’s presidency currently under attack, keeping his loyalists in place, despite their conduct, is a key political requirement.

Abdi Mohamed is a Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee member, deputy president for the African regional confederation, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), and sits on the FIFA Grassroots and Amateur Football Committee.

He is one of FIFA’s protected species but is under huge pressure from his own stakeholders in Somalia who claim he has massively overstepped governance and basic human rights boundaries to ensure his re-election. FIFA have so far done nothing to stop him, though are very aware of the activity having been informed on multiple occasions of his electoral behaviour.

Abdi Mohamed is accused by Somali’s football family of using his position to suspend members who don’t support him, and even using his position as a Somali police captain to threaten and intimidate opposition supporters.

In June 2026 an SFF congress majority voted against Mohamed and in favour of Omar Mohamoud Nor (Muganbe) as Acting President, to fill the role following the expiry of the last term and until a new president is elected. A full election is expected this year.

Following the election of Nor however, FIFA rapidly intervened, stating that it would conduct an investigation into the elections, and keeping Infantino’s man, Abdi Mohamed, in post.

No election date has been announced but Somali football’s stakeholders have articulated mounting concerns among candidates and members of the Somali football community regarding the conduct surrounding the elections.

They point to a number of football officials and stakeholders who have reportedly been suspended by the current SFF administration.

It is a list that includes SFF executive committee member Nor Mogambe who has already beaten Abdi Mohamed in an election this year. Others suspended include:

• Ali Omar Hassan — Chairman, Hilaac FC
• Mohamed Abdullah — Chairman, Jeenyo FC
• Abdiqadi Said Arab — Former SFF President
• Dr. Ahmed Mohamed — Horseed FC
• Ali Mohamoud — Chairman, Futsal Association
• Abdullahi Siyad — Chairman, Players Association

“The legal and disciplinary grounds for several of these suspensions remain unclear to the concerned stakeholders,” said a source. “This has raised questions about whether disciplinary measures are being applied independently and consistently, particularly where individuals are candidates, potential candidates, or are perceived to support candidates opposing the current administration.”

Somali football stakeholders are concerned over due process, equal treatment, freedom to participate in the electoral process and the independence of the election bodies.

Stakeholders also question whether the electoral committee was properly constituted at Congress, whether the required voting threshold was achieved, whether the appointment complied with the SFF Statutes and Electoral Code, and whether the committee is sufficiently independent from the current administration and other interested parties (which of course includes Infantino’s foot soldiers in the region).

FIFA and CAF have been contacted repeatedly by Somali football stakeholders who are seeking intervention and a fully transparent monitoring of the electoral process.

They say “concerns are particularly relevant given FIFA’s direct involvement in the governance and oversight of member associations. Ahmed Haraz, who stakeholders identify as FIFA’s focal point for Somalia, has become a particular point of attention among those seeking clarification regarding FIFA’s awareness and response to the situation.”

With Abdi Mohamed’s support of Infantino and FIFA’s continued silence, stakeholders argue it could create a perception of unequal treatment or insufficient scrutiny. They fear it will allow “the current administration to continue taking controversial decisions without sufficient external oversight.”

Citing transparency and accountability, the stakeholders, somewhat rhetorically, are asking whether FIFA and CAF are fully aware of the reported suspensions and electoral concerns, and whether any monitoring or investigation is taking place.

With the election approaching, candidates and football stakeholders are calling for equal treatment, transparency, an independent electoral process and effective oversight to ensure that all eligible participants can compete without intimidation, arbitrary exclusion or unequal treatment.

“The credibility of the forthcoming SFF election will ultimately depend not only on its result, but on whether the entire electoral process is conducted in a manner that is transparent, independent and trusted by Somali football stakeholders,” said a Somali source.

For the Somali stakeholders there are key questions they want answered: Are the reported suspensions supported by clear legal grounds? Was the Electoral Committee properly and independently appointed? Are FIFA and CAF monitoring the electoral process? And will all candidates and football stakeholders receive equal treatment under the SFF Statutes and applicable FIFA regulations?

With Infantino’s FIFA leadership being questioned worldwide, and growing contempt for his manipulation and disrespect of the world’s smaller federations, the Somali elections are a microcosm of Infantino’s member association activities on a wider scale.

Before the world was not much bothered by the manipulation and bullying – football’s stakeholders were enured to it. But the attempted sell-off of all FIFA’s competition commercial rights and the attempt to bribe smaller associations into agreeing to it with their own money, has meant that now the world is watching.

Even in Africa, enough will eventually be enough if they value their own self determination and their ultimately whether they will have leadership of the game on their continent.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]