Sports · Football · 4 hrs ago
Football Australia chair calls FIFA turmoil ‘growing pains’
Football Australia chair Anter Isaac called FIFA’s troubles “growing pains” in comments about the organisation’s leadership and governance.
The debate follows a scrapped $4.2 billion plan to sell World Cup commercial rights, which Infantino has apologised for assembling.
Infantino is visiting Japan this week to seek support from Asian football federations ahead of his re-election campaign.
The Asian Football Confederation has criticised the plan, but its members are divided, with Qatar supporting Infantino and Jordan opposing him.
Infantino is close to the support needed to win in March, according to an Associated Press tally, though the vote is not settled.
FIFA’s council is due to meet again on December 16 in Doha, and candidates must file by November 18.
Football Australia chair Anter Isaac described turmoil at FIFA as “growing pains” and urged a measured view of the organisation.
His comments came as FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought support from Asian football federations ahead of a re-election campaign.
FIFA’s proposed $4.2 billion World Cup sell-off plan, which drew criticism, has been scrapped.
Support for Infantino appears divided in Asia, with Qatar backing him and Jordan opposing him, according to the Associated Press report.
An Associated Press tally said 87 of FIFA’s 211 member federations had indicated support for Infantino.
- Who
- Football Australia chair Anter Isaac commented on FIFA, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seeking support for re-election.
- What
- Isaac called FIFA’s recent turmoil “growing pains.” Infantino is seeking support from Asian federations after a proposed World Cup sell-off plan was scrapped.
- When
- Isaac’s comments were made earlier this month. Infantino’s meeting with Asian football leaders is scheduled for Wednesday.
- Where
- The meeting is scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan.
- Why
- Infantino is seeking support ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March; Isaac said FIFA’s systems and processes may not have kept pace with its growing revenues.
FIFA critics
Infantino supporters
Governance and the sell-off plan
FIFA critics
UEFA asked FIFA to explain the proposed sale of 20% of its commercial rights, and the AFC had joined criticism of the plan.
Infantino supporters
Isaac described the turmoil as “growing pains”; Qatar has expressed support for Infantino.
Infantino’s leadership
FIFA critics
Jordan has declared opposition to Infantino, and Europe is the largest bloc of opposition, according to the AP report.
Infantino supporters
Infantino has support indicated by 87 member federations, according to an AP tally.
Football Australia called for “clear and credible action” on the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan but did not call for Infantino’s resignation.
Infantino apologised to FIFA’s ruling council for “mistakes” in assembling the now-scrapped sell-off plan.
Asian football officials are due to meet in Tokyo, where FIFA leadership and governance are expected to be discussed.
The deadline for candidates to file against Infantino is Nov. 18.
FIFA’s presidential election is scheduled for March.
- Proposed sell-off plan
- $4.2 billion
- FIFA member federations
- 211
- Federations indicating support for Infantino
- 87, according to an Associated Press tally
- Scheduled meeting
- Wednesday in Tokyo
- Candidate filing deadline
- Nov. 18
- FIFA presidential election
- March
3 sources
What people are saying
We can look at it and be unsophisticated and say, what a mess
Or we can take a more responsible, mature view and say, you know what, these are growing pains.
FIFA is a massive patronage network
To say FIFA is in need of structural overhaul it to make an enormous understatement.