3 weeks ago
Mexico, Argentina Back Infantino as UEFA Maintains Hardline Stance
Gianni Infantino is the boss of FIFA, the group that runs soccer around the world.
He had an idea to sell part of the World Cup's money-making rights to raise billions of dollars.
Many soccer groups and countries were upset because they were not asked about it first.
FIFA said sorry and stopped the plan.
Now the soccer world is choosing sides.
Mexico and Argentina say they support Infantino.
The soccer leaders of Africa also back him.
But the soccer leaders of Europe say they will boycott the World Cup unless they get promises.
Some countries, like Croatia, England, and Albania, say they no longer support him.
In March, all the soccer countries will meet in Morocco to decide whether Infantino stays as boss.
Mexico's FMF and Argentina's AFA threw their support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a week after he abandoned his proposal to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in World Cup commercial rights.
CAF unanimously backed Infantino's leadership, while UEFA said it remained committed to boycotting the World Cup and other FIFA competitions until it received assurances that such attempts would never be made again.
CONMEBOL rejected any attempt to oust Infantino that did not involve a vote of all 211 FIFA members, a stance echoed by Mexico's FMF, which broke ranks with its regional confederation CONCACAF.
Croatia, England and Albania withdrew their support for Infantino, and players' union FIFPRO called the proposal a 'profound abuse of presidential power.'
FIFA apologised to its members for mistakes around the proposal and pledged to review the processes, while insisting its actions complied with regulations.
- Who
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino and football's confederations and national associations, including Mexico's FMF, Argentina's AFA, CAF, UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and FIFPRO.
- What
- A leadership fight over Infantino triggered by his now-abandoned proposal to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights.
- Where
- Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA met its members; the next FIFA Congress will also be held in Morocco.
- When
- In the week after FIFA's meeting in Rabat; Infantino's reelection bid comes at the FIFA Congress in March.
- Why
- The abandoned commercial rights proposal sparked governance concerns over 'repeated unilateral actions' and a battle over Infantino's presidency ahead of his bid for a fourth term.
Critics of Infantino
Supporters of Infantino
World Cup commercial rights proposal
Critics of Infantino
FIFPRO called the proposal a governance failure and a 'profound abuse of presidential power,' and Argentina's AFA said it generated far more uncertainties than certainties and that errors had been made.
Supporters of Infantino
FIFA said all actions complied with its regulations, apologised for mistakes, and stressed that the errors related to process and communication rather than breaches of governance rules.
Infantino's leadership and reelection
Critics of Infantino
UEFA and CONCACAF called for a 'comprehensive reckoning' with his presidency, UEFA committed to boycotting the World Cup, and Croatia, England and Albania withdrew their support.
Supporters of Infantino
CAF unanimously backed his leadership, Mexico's FMF said it supports Infantino's leadership in developing football, and Argentina's AFA expressed support for FIFA's work over the last 10 years.
Process for holding FIFA accountable
Critics of Infantino
UEFA, CONCACAF and Asia's AFC stood in solidarity, citing concerns over 'repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue.'
Supporters of Infantino
CONMEBOL and Mexico's FMF rejected any attempt to oust Infantino that did not involve a vote of all 211 FIFA members, insisting on the institutional framework and FIFA's transparency reforms.
Key facts
- FIFA President
- Gianni Infantino, seeking a fourth term at the March FIFA Congress
- Contested Proposal
- Abandoned plan to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in World Cup commercial rights
- FMF (Mexico)
- Broke with CONCACAF to back Infantino and the 211-member institutional framework
- AFA (Argentina)
- Supports FIFA's work over the last 10 years but acknowledges errors over the proposal
- CAF (Africa)
- Unanimously backed Infantino's leadership
- UEFA (Europe)
- Committed to boycotting the World Cup and other FIFA competitions
- Associations Withdrawing Support
- Croatia, England and Albania
- FIFPRO (players' union)
- Called the proposal a governance failure and 'profound abuse of presidential power'
- Next FIFA Congress
- March, in Morocco
Quotes
Mexican Football Federation (FMF)
National governing body for soccer in Mexico
“The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made ... by President Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations.”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
“"FIFA has said that all actions taken over the commercial rights proposal complied with its regulations and stressed that mistakes related to process and communication rather than breaches of governance rules."”
theprint.in
Sources
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