Arab Soccer Federations Rally Behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino Amid Controversy
Support for Infantino from Arab Nations
In Zurich, leaders from six Arab soccer federations voiced their unwavering support for Gianni Infantino on Thursday. This endorsement comes as the FIFA president grapples with challenges following his unsuccessful proposal for private investment in the World Cup.
The federations backing Infantino include Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan, with four of these leaders also serving on the FIFA council.
The joint statement from these football associations expressed their complete confidence in Infantino's leadership and his dedication to advancing the sport globally.
They acknowledged his ongoing efforts to promote football, enhance opportunities across various regions, and strengthen the sport's ability to unite communities.
The signatories expressed eagerness to continue collaborating with Infantino to foster a more robust future for global football and to amplify the contributions of Arab football.
Infantino is currently facing significant opposition after his proposal to sell World Cup stakes to private equity firms was met with widespread disapproval. He has since retracted the $20 billion plan following backlash from global soccer leaders, including UEFA, which threatened to boycott FIFA events.
UEFA, along with CONCACAF and the AFC, issued a letter condemning Infantino's proposal as a serious breach of trust and labeled it as deceptive.
By supporting Infantino, Qatar and Lebanon have positioned themselves against the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino's Instagram has previously showcased letters of support from various member federations, including those from Morocco, Qatar, and the UAE.
Among the FIFA council members who signed the statement were Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani from Qatar, Hany Abo Rida from Egypt, Fouzi Lekjaa from Morocco, and Ahmed Yahya from Mauritania.
The other signatories included Hashem Haidar from Lebanon and Moatasem Gafar from Sudan.
Since taking office in 2016, Infantino appeared poised for re-election without opposition next March in Morocco.