Mexico and Argentina are backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino against a push from European and North and Central American leaders to oust him over controversial World Cup plans, according to reports from British outlet The Telegraph and statements released by the respective football federations.
Leadership Challenge Facing FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Leaders from the European Football Association (UEFA) and Concacaf—which represents North America, Central America, and the Caribbean—have attempted to gather enough support to unseat Gianni Infantino through a vote of no confidence or by launching a challenger for the presidency next year, according to The Telegraph. The push follows criticism of Infantino’s proposed tournament plans and a plan to sell stakes in competitions like the World Cup. Infantino has served as FIFA president since 2016.
Mexico and Argentina Confirm Full Support for FIFA Boss
Despite the brewing opposition, unity is lacking within Concacaf and South America. The Mexican football federation announced its continued support for Infantino. Mexico co-hosted the recent World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, representing the first tournament for which Infantino was involved in appointing the hosts. His predecessor, Sepp Blatter, previously selected the hosts for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) also issued a formal statement on its website backing the FIFA leadership. “On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and its styrelse, we turn to you, dear president, and through you to FIFA’s styrelse, to express our support for the work carried out over the past ten years,” the AFA wrote.
Conmebol and African Football Confederation Positions
The Argentine announcement arrived shortly after the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), of which AFA is a member, stated it would not support a no-confidence vote against Infantino. However, Conmebol left the door open for alternative presidential candidates at the upcoming FIFA congress next year. AFA noted that while it initially opposed proposals to sell shares in tournaments like the World Cup, it considered an apology published by FIFA to be “sincere.” Following these developments, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced that it also stands behind FIFA’s statement and continues to back Infantino.
Did you know?
Gianni Infantino took over the FIFA presidency in 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter, and was involved in appointing the hosts for the World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is trying to challenge Gianni Infantino?
According to The Telegraph, leaders from UEFA and Concacaf have explored gathering support for a vote of no confidence or fielding an alternate candidate for the FIFA presidency.
Which countries support Infantino?
Mexico, Argentina, and the member federations represented by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have publicly expressed support for the FIFA president.
What prompted the leadership backlash?
The opposition stems from criticism over proposed tournament formats and plans to sell commercial stakes in events such as the World Cup.
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