FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received fresh backing from influential African football leaders as pressure mounts over his leadership following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell stakes in future World Cup revenues to private investors.
Five African football officials are reported to have expressed their support for Infantino, while welcoming his decision to abandon the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would have raised $4.2 billion, through a new commercial rights model.
The News Chronicle reports that CAF’s 54 member associations will discuss the matter as the continental body decides whether to endorse Infantino’s candidacy for a second term as FIFA President, due to the next presidential election.
Supporters of the Swiss Italian among the CAF executives are Vice President and Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and the FIFA Council delegation of Hany Abo Rida of Egypt, Hamidou Djibrilla of Niger and Ahmed Yhaya of Mauritania.
The African football administrators have greatly benefited from FIFA subsidies, with every CAF member country receiving eight million $ per four-year cycle, on top of which the CAF grants are also distributed. Therefore, many African football associations are less developed in terms of economy.
However, Infantino’s position has come under pressure elsewhere. UEFA, CONCACAF and Asian football authorities have raised concerns over his leadership.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström have also distanced themselves from the abandoned investment proposal, while FIFA operations chief Kevin Lamour publicly criticised the project.
With opposition growing across several confederations, Infantino’s previously strong grip on FIFA now faces its most serious challenge yet.
