FIFA Infantino crisis has intensified after US President Donald Trump warned that FIFA would make a “terrible mistake” if it considered removing president Gianni Infantino. Trump’s involvement coincides as pressure is mounting on Infantino after the commercial plans for FIFA were abandoned. The controversy has brought more scrutiny to the FIFA president by the big football governing bodies.
An open letter signed by the UEFA, Concacaf and Confederation of Asian Football Federations (CAFF) accused of Infantino has broken trust in “deception” over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The combined complaint has posed a huge problem for Infantino as FIFA is now at risk from questioning about the way the commercial scheme was handled.
But Trump has publicly backed the FIFA president, saying that kicking Infantino off the job would be a big mistake. His remarks take an important political twist on a growing controversy in international soccer.
Infantino has also played a leading role in football administration worldwide and has close ties with football-related political power structures and organisations. This is, however, the latest row between the management of FIFA and some of the world’s elite confederations. The dropped FFE plans have dominated the debate, while the open letter from UEFA, Concacaf and Asian Football Confederation suggests that there is a lack of trust and transparency.
The FIFA Infantino crisis may now be a key challenge for the president’s role and relations in world football. However, the action by Trump may give Infantino some public support, which may lead to greater pressure being put on FIFA to solve the issues related to the commercial project.
The next round of the battle will decide whether Infantino will keep the support of the international community of football stakeholders as their eyes are turned on the leadership of the FIFA.
