FIFA President confident of winning fourth term

FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes he has the support of the “vast majority of football associations” in his bid for re-election as head of world football’s governing body.

The Swiss official has also faced calls to resign after unveiling plans earlier this year to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, CE Report quotes STA.

In an interview with the BBC today, Infantino said he enjoys broad support among FIFA’s national member associations for his re-election.

His comments came a day after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) changed its position, with its backing potentially providing a crucial boost to the 56-year-old Italian-Swiss official’s campaign for a fourth term.

Just two months ago, Infantino’s future appeared highly uncertain following his controversial proposal to establish a company that would manage FIFA’s commercial operations and sell minority stakes to private investors. The plan faced strong opposition and was subsequently withdrawn.

The continental football confederations UEFA, AFC and Concacaf signed a letter stating, among other things, that football “does not belong to any individual.”

However, Infantino, who apologized for the proposal last week, now appears to be in a stronger position ahead of the presidential election scheduled for March next year.

Asked by the BBC whether he had considered resigning, Infantino burst into laughter and replied:

“Well, I was elected by 211 members from around the world, and I think it is important that different opinions and views can exist within an organization like FIFA.”

“But if we take democracy or the democratic process seriously, and if we believe that everyone around the world has an equal voice and an equal right to vote — meaning that football belongs to everyone — then we must also respect the views of the vast, overwhelming majority.”

Photo Instagram/gianni_infantino