Infantino Claims Broad Support Amidst FIFA Controversy

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has asserted that he commands the support of "the vast, vast majority" of world football, while addressing concerns surrounding the now-canceled FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. In a rare interview with BBC Sport, Infantino adopted a defiant stance, laughing off suggestions that he had considered resigning.

Infantino acknowledged that disagreements are a normal part of managing an organization with diverse viewpoints. "There is nothing bad in disagreeing," he stated. "We see it every day in so many countries in the world. It's OK to disagree. It's OK to have different points of view, but then we need to be able to move on."

Just two months prior, Infantino faced significant pressure to step down. Leaders from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF had jointly penned a letter accusing the FIFA president of breaching trust "through deception" over the FFE plan. Last week, UEFA demanded that FIFA release all pertinent documents related to FFE by November 2, with UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis noting that the organization had failed to address "a number of fundamental questions."

The FFE proposal, which Infantino quickly abandoned, involved selling a portion of FIFA's commercial rights to a private investment firm. Since the letter was issued, Infantino has been actively touring globally, visiting locations such as Morocco, the Dominican Republic, Cape Verde, and Japan, appearing to secure support that makes his re-election for a fourth term next year likely. He has also proposed increasing funding for global football development by $3.4 billion.

During the interview, Infantino highlighted his "full endorsement" from the Asian Football Confederation, following a shift in stance by its president, Sheikh Salman, and claimed the backing of "all African countries." Despite these assertions, he recently apologized to the FIFA Council for the "communication and consultation" process regarding FFE. Council members had reportedly told him he was not "fit to be FIFA president" if he withheld requested documents, including the rationale behind FFE. When pressed for a timeline on releasing these papers, Infantino did not provide a clear answer, citing the need to adhere to a "legal process" and stating they were "working on it."

Speaking from the first Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, Infantino suggested that while he and the FIFA administration are doing their best, "some things which are maybe less good" have occurred. He also emphasized the need for more frequent dialogue with UEFA to mend their strained relationship.

When questioned about his fitness for the FIFA presidency and whether he had considered resigning, Infantino responded with laughter before stating, "I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world." He added that respecting the views of the "vast, vast majority" is crucial for democracy and ensuring football belongs to everyone. He referenced his recent endorsements from the Asian Football Confederation in Tokyo and all African countries in Cape Verde, and his ongoing communication with associations worldwide.

Infantino reiterated that while bringing all viewpoints together is challenging, he respects all opinions and views. Ultimately, he stated, the FIFA member associations will decide on the presidency and the direction of FIFA.

The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to challenge Infantino for the presidency in March is November 18. As of now, no other candidates have formally entered the race.

The FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan features teams from 189 member associations, including England, Spain, France, Argentina, and Brazil. Russia is also participating, marking its first appearance in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament since being suspended in February 2022. The tournament, currently for boys, will be girls-only next year, with a mixed-gender format planned from 2028. The matches are played in an 8v8 format on smaller pitches with 20-minute halves.

Infantino described the event as "beautiful to bring the world together at such a young age" and noted that participants will remember it as their first World Cup experience.