FIFA president Gianni Infantino has secured the backing of all 54 member associations within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of next year’s presidential election, according to announcements made in Johannesburg by CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe Backs Gianni Infantino for Re-election
African soccer leadership has firmly endorsed Gianni Infantino’s upcoming bid for another term leading the international governing body. According to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, speaking at a press briefing in Johannesburg, the Swiss administrator enjoys support across all 54 African member associations.
“I houd van zijn enorme toewijding aan het wereldwijde voetbal en zijn steun aan de sport in Afrika,” Motsepe stated, praising Infantino’s tenure since taking office in 2016. The CAF chief credited the FIFA president with expanding tournament access, pointing specifically to the recent World Cup expansion to 48 competing nations. That restructuring increased direct qualification slots for African national teams from five to nine, with an additional tenth spot available via intercontinental play-offs.
“Gianni heeft een cruciale rol gespeeld in het vergroten van de kansen voor Afrikaanse nationale elftallen op het wereldtoneel,” Motsepe added, dismissing ongoing criticisms directed at proposals to scale the tournament format up to 64 participating countries.
Norwegian Football Federation Files Ethics Complaint Over Folarin Balogun Ruling
According to the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), leadership is preparing an official complaint for FIFA’s ethics committee following an intervention in the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun initially incurred an automatic one-match ban after receiving a red card during a fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina. President Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino, that suspension was altered to a conditional penalty, enabling the forward to play in a subsequent match against Belgium. NFF president Lise Klaveness argued that such external interventions create a dangerous precedent that threatens the integrity of the sport.
“Dit had niet mogen gebeuren. Dit mag ook niet onder het tapijt geveegd worden,” Klaveness said, demanding that Infantino acknowledge the decision was incorrect. Conversely, the intervention was viewed positively by Donald Trump, who characterized it as “een geweldige beslissing.” The NFF has also previously criticized FIFA for awarding Trump a newly created “Peace Prize,” which the Norwegian federation argues violated organizational rules concerning political neutrality.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is backing Gianni Infantino for the next FIFA presidential election?
According to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, all 54 member associations within the African football confederation are backing Infantino for a new term.
Why is the Norwegian Football Federation filing a complaint with FIFA?
According to NFF president Lise Klaveness, the Norwegian federation objects to the overturning of American striker Folarin Balogun’s automatic red-card suspension following a phone call between U.S.
How did Africa benefit from the recent World Cup expansion?
According to CAF statements, the expansion to 48 teams increased direct qualification tickets for African national teams from five to nine, plus a potential tenth spot through intercontinental play-offs.
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