The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has unanimously reaffirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, rallying behind the global football chief following a period of intense scrutiny and governance debate.
The backing comes in the wake of FIFA’s decision to drop a controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors—a plan that had previously faced strong pushback from European and international bodies.
Africa’s top football decision-making body sided with the FIFA president as he seeks re-election in March next year. CAF makes up 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations and is a powerful voting bloc that has largely supported Infantino since he took office in 2016.
“The CAF EXCO unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over the years,” CAF said in a statement.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe welcomed FIFA’s pledge to review the processes that led to the controversy which sparked the fiercest revolt of Infantino’s tenure.
National federations also complained they had been sidelined over the abandoned proposal to sell a slice of the World Cup’s commercial future.
“CAF welcomes and endorses the “Joint Update” by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom,” Motsepe said, but stressed the need for good governance and transparency in global football.
“We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its member associations, other football Confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance…”
“…Due process and transparency global best practises and to contribute to the development and growth of football worldwide,” he mentioned.
- READ MORE: FIFA Abandons World Cup Sell-Off Plan After Resistance
- READ MORE: FIFA President To Hold Crisis Meeting in Morocco
CAF’s support will provide some relief to Infantino, who has faced near global condemnation for his aborted plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and sell commercial rights to the World Cup.
Earlier this week, five of Africa’s most influential football leaders issued statements in support of Infantino, while also welcoming the decision to drop his controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup revenue.
