AFA Backs Gianni Infantino Amidst FIFA Leadership Challenges
AFA Expresses Support for FIFA President
Buenos Aires, Argentina - On August 7, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) publicly endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, commending his decade-long efforts aimed at enhancing football globally and establishing a robust governance framework characterized by clarity, stability, and transparency.
Infantino's leadership has garnered backing from one of the most influential football associations as he prepares for the upcoming presidential elections in Morocco next year. His initiative, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which sought to attract external investment in FIFA-related events, faced significant criticism from major football organizations such as UEFA, FA, and CONCACAF, leading to its retraction.
In a subsequent statement, Infantino and FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom expressed regret for the missteps and assured that such errors would not recur, promising a thorough review with findings to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting.
In response, the AFA issued a statement affirming, "On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and its Executive Committee, we wish to convey our support for the management over the past decade, focusing on global football development and a governance model that is clear, stable, and transparent."
The statement further acknowledged the decision to retract a project that had caused more uncertainty than clarity within the football community from its inception. It emphasized the importance of the administration's recognition of its mistakes and the sincere apologies directed to FIFA's 211 member associations.
AFA highlighted that Infantino's leadership has initiated a significant transformation within FIFA, fostering open communication with all member associations and confederations to promote football across various levels and disciplines.
The association noted that the changes implemented under Infantino are grounded in a transparent governance model, respect for statutory frameworks, and adherence to democratic processes—key principles for uniting the football community and enhancing both sporting and institutional improvements, ultimately benefiting millions who engage in the sport.
As the next FIFA Congress approaches, AFA President Claudio Tapia reiterated the association's commitment to continuing under Infantino's leadership to foster a more inclusive and progressive football environment.