FIFA President Gianni Infantino has insisted that he retains the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of world football as he prepares for next year’s leadership vote. Speaking in an interview with BBC Sport from Azerbaijan during the Under-15 World Cup, Infantino laughed off questions regarding whether he had considered resigning in the wake of a controversial commercial proposal.
Two months ago, the FIFA leader faced severe backlash when the heads of European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and Concacaf signed a joint letter accusing him of breaking trust “through deception.” The dispute centered on the short-lived FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to sell a portion of commercial rights for FIFA competitions to a private investment firm. Although Infantino scrapped the plan within days, tensions have persisted over transparency and consultation.
Shoring Up Global Support Ahead of the March Vote
Despite heavy criticism from European delegates, Infantino has traveled extensively across Morocco, the Dominican Republic, Cape Verde, and Japan to secure crucial backing. Last week, the Asian Football Confederation reversed its stance from two months prior and fully endorsed his re-election bid. In addition, Infantino noted that all African member associations continue to support his leadership, positioning him as the overwhelming favorite to secure a fourth term.
The candidate nomination deadline is set for November 18, and with no challengers having formally entered the race, Infantino could potentially run unopposed in March. To further solidify member relations, the FIFA president has proposed increasing global football development funding by $3.4bn (£2.6bn).
Unresolved Demands and Institutional Friction
While global backing appears robust, institutional friction with European football authorities remains high. Last week, UEFA issued a hardline demand requiring FIFA to release all key documentation pertaining to the aborted FFE project by November 2. UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis stated that FIFA had failed to address fundamental questions regarding the initiative.
During a recent FIFA Council meeting where Infantino apologized for communication mistakes regarding the plan, council members warned that withholding requested papers would call his fitness for office into question. When pressed by BBC Sport on when those documents would be made public, Infantino did not provide a definitive timeline, stating that the administration must follow a “legal process” while actively working on the response.