Fifa President, Gianni Infantino, insists that he retains the support of the vast majority of world football stakeholders, despite growing criticism over a controversial commercial rights proposal that strained relations with several football confederations.
Key Highlights
- Infantino says he retains the support of most world football stakeholders.
- Controversy follows the withdrawn Fifa Forward Enterprise commercial rights proposal.
- Uefa demands release of key documents on the proposal by November 2.
- Infantino apologised to the Fifa Council but gave no date for releasing the documents.
- Fifa presidential election holds in March 2027; deadline for challengers is November 18.
- Inaugural Fifa Under-15 World Cup under way in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Infantino, who has led world football’s governing body since 2016, made the assertion in an interview with BBC Sport in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the inaugural Fifa Under-15 World Cup is taking place.
The Fifa president dismissed questions about whether he has considered resigning following the controversy surrounding the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would have involved selling part of the commercial rights to Fifa competitions to a private investment firm.
Row With Uefa, AFC And Concacaf
The proposal was withdrawn within days, but the decision triggered a dispute with key football officials, including leaders of the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Two months ago, the dispute intensified when the three confederations’ leaders signed a letter accusing Infantino of undermining trust through what they described as deception.
Uefa has since demanded that Fifa release key documents relating to the abandoned proposal by November 2, with its General Secretary, Theodore Theodoridis, expressing concern that several fundamental questions remained unanswered.
Infantino apologised to the Fifa Council last week over the communication and consultation process surrounding the proposal.
However, he did not provide a definite date for releasing the requested documents, saying the matter was subject to legal procedures.
Infantino: ‘There Is Nothing Bad In Disagreeing’
Asked whether he believed he remained fit to lead Fifa and whether he had considered stepping down, Infantino laughed before defending his mandate.
He argued that he had been elected by 211 member associations and maintained that differing opinions should be accommodated within the organisation.
“There is nothing bad in disagreeing,” he said, adding that football leaders must respect different perspectives while recognising the democratic process through which member associations determine the organisation’s leadership.
Infantino also cited what he described as full endorsement from the AFC and support from African countries following recent engagements in Japan, Cape Verde and other parts of the world.
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March 2027 Fifa Presidential Election
His renewed show of confidence comes as preparations gather pace for the next Fifa presidential election, scheduled for March 2027.
The deadline for candidates to confirm their intention to challenge him is November 18, although no challenger had formally entered the race at the time of the report.
His re-election for a fourth term consequently appears increasingly likely if no credible opposition emerges.
Despite his defence of his leadership, Infantino acknowledged shortcomings within the organisation, admitting that Fifa has handled some matters less effectively than it should have.
He also called for more frequent dialogue with Uefa in an effort to repair relations following the disagreement over the FFE proposal.
Inaugural Fifa Under-15 World Cup In Baku
Beyond the leadership controversy, Infantino was in Azerbaijan for the first Fifa Under-15 World Cup and Festival, featuring teams from 189 member associations.
Countries participating include England, Spain, France, Argentina and Brazil. Russia has also entered a team, marking its return to a Fifa-sanctioned tournament after the country and its clubs were suspended from international competitions by Fifa and Uefa in February 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.
The tournament is being played in an eight-a-side format, with smaller pitches and 20-minute halves. The current edition is reserved for boys, while next year’s competition will feature girls. From 2028, Fifa plans to stage separate boys’ and girls’ tournaments annually.
Infantino described the initiative as an opportunity to bring young players from different countries together and create lasting memories of their first World Cup experience.
However, the unresolved dispute over the commercial rights proposal remains a major test of his relationship with key football stakeholders as he prepares for another presidential election.
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