WASHINGTON, United States: The Infantino leadership dispute widened Monday as US President Donald Trump defended FIFA President Gianni Infantino after three regional confederations accused him of deception.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake” if it considered replacing Infantino, Trump wrote on Truth Social on August 10. He called the FIFA president “fantastic” and credited him with overseeing the organisation’s most successful World Cup.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a joint open letter the same day.
The confederations called FIFA’s handling of a proposal to sell a commercial interest in World Cup competitions a “fundamental breach of trust.”
They accused Infantino of acting without adequate consultation and requested an independent review.
Read: UEFA Boycott Threat Stays After FIFA Drops $4.2bn Plan
FIFA had presented the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary as a way to attract private investment and increase development funding.
Infantino withdrew the plan after opposition from football bodies, including a UEFA threat to boycott FIFA competitions.
Read: Gianni Infantino Seeks Trump Help After $4.2B FIFA Plan Fails
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for the organisation’s congress in March 2027. Infantino has announced that he will seek another term, while prospective challengers must declare their candidacies by November 18, according to AFP.
FIFA’s 211 member associations, rather than the six continental confederations, will vote in the election.
