FIFA Defends Infantino Amid Growing Leadership Dispute

AP

FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FIFA on Saturday warned against what it described as a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine President Gianni Infantino, insisting that any challenge to his leadership must be conducted in accordance with the organisation's statutes and democratic procedures.

The statement comes amid an escalating dispute over Infantino's leadership following the collapse of his proposal to raise around $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other international tournaments.

The proposal sparked widespread criticism from UEFA, several national football associations and senior FIFA officials, prompting calls for Infantino to resign. The controversy also led to a crisis meeting in Morocco this week, where FIFA's leadership reaffirmed its support for the president.

The ⁠statement followed reports by The Daily Telegraph about payments made by UEFA to a former employee during Infantino's time as the European governing body's general secretary, allegations he has denied and that FIFA has rejected as unfounded.

"Those who do not have the support of FIFA's Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes," FIFA said.

It said recent reporting had included "unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims" concerning FIFA and its president, adding that it would challenge inaccurate or misleading reports "directly and vigorously".

FIFA added it would not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of its president that was inconsistent with its statutes, democratic procedures and governance ‌framework.

"The ⁠FIFA president was democratically elected by FIFA's member associations and continues to serve with their mandate," it said.

Following a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA apologised to its 211 member associations for mistakes in the handling of the proposal and said its leadership had unanimously reaffirmed its confidence in President Gianni Infantino.

The controversy has cast uncertainty over Infantino's campaign for a fourth term ahead of the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March, although no formal challenger has yet emerged.

UEFA has said it no longer has confidence in Infantino's leadership, while Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness called on Friday for his resignation, arguing that he no longer commands the institutional trust required to lead world football's governing body.

Despite the criticism, Infantino continues to enjoy broad backing from many of FIFA's member associations. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously endorsed his leadership on Thursday, while South America's CONMEBOL rejected any attempt to remove him without a vote of FIFA's full membership.

The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) also expressed its support for Infantino, despite CONCACAF's earlier call for a "comprehensive reckoning" with his presidency.

"The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework," the Mexican federation said.



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