Trump Backs FIFA Boss Infantino Amid Growing Revolt By Soccer Nations

Topline

President Donald Trump warned FIFA against removing Gianni Infantino as the soccer governing body’s leader on Monday night, marking the most high-profile public vote of support for the embattled FIFA official who faces a growing revolt from several member nations over his now-scrapped plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity.

Key Facts

wHAT HAVE fifa AND inFANTINO SAID SO FAR?

Infantino is yet to comment on Trump’s statement in support of him. Last week FIFA issued an apology to its members over “errors” in handling the so-called FIFA Forward Enterprise plan but said its top leaders had reaffirmed their support for Gianni Infantino to remain as president. In the statement, the soccer body acknowledged that mistakes were made in the process and “the process should have been handled differently.” Infantino’s decision to remain as president came even as several top soccer bodies, including the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), said it had lost confidence in his leadership. In its statement, however, FIFA warned: “With the [FFE] project withdrawn, it was agreed that FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.” The soccer body doubled down again over the weekend as it attacked what it claimed was an ongoing campaign in Europe to “undermine” Infantino. This was in response to reports in U.K. newspapers that a female employee was paid to leave her job following an alleged relationship with Infantino while he worked as UEFA general secretary.

What Have Regional Soccer Bodies Said?

On Monday, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the North and Central American soccer body CONCACAF issued an open letter attacking FIFA for failing to take accountability for the controversial FFE plan. “Leadership in football is not a possession…It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it. When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.” The open letter called out FIFA’s recent apology letter to member nations for not acknowledging that the FFE proposal “itself was inherently wrong. There remains no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment – not just a procedural misstep.” UEFA has said it plans to continue with a planned boycott of FIFA competitions as it has lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership. AFC and CONCACAF have stopped short of joining the boycott despite criticizing Infantino. The current holders of the both mens’ and womens’ FIFA World Cup is Spain, a UEFA member.

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