The leadership of the world football governing body, FIFA, has reaffirmed its support for embattled president, Gianni Infantino, after a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
Infantino provoked backlash from football stakeholders around the world when he announced a plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in a commercial rights entity to private investors, hoping to raise about $4.2 billion for FIFA.
The announcement was greeted with vehement criticism from stakeholders, with the European football governing body UEFA leading the lots.
UEFA released a statement almost immediately after the announcement that football was no one’s property to sell.
UEFA said it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership and as a result, a handful of European football federation withdrew their backing for Infantino’s re-election bid come March 2027.
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CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean also shared UEFA’s vote of no confidence stance against Infantino.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) were also highly critical of the way the proposal was presented as a fait accompli without consultation.
European Leagues, which represents more than 1,300 clubs across Europe, said on Wednesday FIFA must not be allowed to “continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions” that affect clubs, players and fans.
It also criticised the “impractically short assessment timeline” of four weeks given by FIFA to study the plan to expand the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams for the 2030 edition.
An Extraordinary Congress could be called if 43 or more FIFA member associations make a formal written request for one.
Pacifying Frayed Nerves
In a move to assuage the situation, Infantino, last Friday, announced that the proposal to sell 20 per cent stake to investors had been withdrawn.
In a statement released by FIFA on Wednesday, FIFA said members of its management board have reaffirmed their full support for President Gianni Infantino.
The statement reads:
“Following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA management board in attendance reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino.”
The statement also added that Infantino had also declared support for FIFA’s Secretary General Mattia Graftstorm.
“In turn, the FIFA President reiterated his full support for the FIFA Secretary General and the FIFA administration for their necessary and outstanding work in the delivery of his vision,” the statement said.
The statement noted that Infantino who had been President since 2016 still remains “the only official elected by the 211 FIFA member associations.”
The statement also confirmed that a separate letter had been sent to FIFA council members and member associations apologising for the controversies that followed the announcement of stake sale.
“It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA member associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently.”
FIFA said, having withdrawn the controversial proposal, it would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process.”
Allies Bolster Support
Infantino still has plenty of allies, however, particularly in parts of the world where football associations rely on FIFA’s largesse to operate.
Leading African football administrators have sent messages of support as Infantino looks to the continent’s 54 members for backing. The African confederation (CAF) has yet to take a stance.
The executive committee of the smallest and least wealthy regional confederation, Oceania, will meet next Wednesday to discuss their approach.
Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines have all declared their loyalty to Infantino despite the AFC’s critical stance.
One clear advantage for Infantino as he looks to extend his presidency until 2031 is that no clear candidate to stand against him in March’s election has yet emerged.
One of the first football associations to back Infantino after his proposal was withdrawn was Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain and is hoping to stage the final.
