- Infantino Denies Seeking Trump’s Backing As Pressure Mounts Over FIFA Leadership
- Wales and England have withdrawn support for Infantino’s re election bid.
- FIFA abandoned a controversial commercial investment proposal after widespread opposition.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has dismissed reports that he sought political backing from United States President Donald Trump as pressure continues to mount over his leadership of world football.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that reports, including one published by the New York Post, claimed Infantino attempted to contact Trump and arrange discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA World Cup commercial rights to private investors.
The proposal faced strong opposition from UEFA and several continental football governing bodies before FIFA eventually abandoned the plan.
FIFA has described reports of planned meetings or political outreach involving Infantino as completely false.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson also denied that any meeting or scheduled conversation between Infantino and Rubio was planned.
“There are no plans for @SecRubio to speak with Infantino and there is no call this morning,” Johnson said in a statement on the social media platform 𝕏.
Despite the denials, scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership has continued ahead of the next FIFA Congress, with several European football associations openly questioning his position.
The pressure intensified after the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the English Football Association withdrew their support for Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president.
Infantino had proposed establishing a commercial entity that would allow outside investors to acquire a stake in FIFA World Cup commercial rights. The plan, however, faced widespread opposition from UEFA, other confederations and leading football clubs.
The FAW, which had previously supported Infantino before details of the proposal emerged, confirmed on Monday that it had withdrawn its backing.
In a statement, the Welsh FA said:
“The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football.
“Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”
The English FA has also formally informed FIFA that it no longer supports Infantino’s re election bid.
The association had earlier stated that it “fully supported” UEFA’s position that confidence in the FIFA president had been damaged by the handling of the failed commercial proposal.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016, when he succeeded Sepp Blatter, and is seeking a fourth term in office.
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