Donald Trump publicly backs Gianni Infantino to remain as FIFA president
Infantino has been urged to step down as FIFA’s president.
US President Donald Trump has stepped up to support his close buddy and troubled FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning the international football governing body against dismissing him and branding any such move a “terrible mistake”.
Infantino has been under intense scrutiny after his contentious attempt to sell a part in the men’s World Cup commercial arm to private investors failed due to resistance from three confederations.
The plan hinged on the formation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a firm that would manage the commercial and operational elements of FIFA competitions. The strategy included the prospect of selling around 20% of the firm to private investors.
The incident finally prompted demands that Infantino step down as FIFA president.
Trump warned on his Truth Social account early Tuesday that dismissing Infantino would prove expensive for FIFA.
US President Donald Trump backs Gianni Infantino to continue as FIFA’s president
The American president wrote:
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino.
He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
The sharpest criticism of Gianni Infantino’s idea came from UEFA. After FIFA originally set September 19 as the deadline for member associations to adopt the idea, UEFA conducted a virtual conference with its 55 members, with European football calling for a boycott of the World Cup if the idea was kept in place.
Infantino then apologised last week during a crisis meeting in Morocco, at which senior FIFA officials “reaffirmed their full support” for his role.
Which of Gianni Infantino’s ideas has been boycotted by other federations?
His plans to sell FIFA World Cup commercial arm to private investors.
Will Gianni Infantino step down as FIFA’s president?
It remains to be seen.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.