Now Reading: FIFA crisis deepens as Infantino faces calls to resign
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FIFA crisis deepens as Infantino faces calls to resign
FIFA has dismissed as “pure fiction” a report that president Gianni Infantino sought backing from US President Donald Trump after a failed plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.…
The Story in Brief
FIFA has dismissed as “pure fiction” a report that president Gianni Infantino sought backing from US President Donald Trump after a failed plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights. The proposal, which aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by offering roughly 20% of a new commercial entity to private investors, collapsed after resistance from football stakeholders.
Infantino faces criticism from former Portugal star Luis Figo and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, while FIFA has denied claims that he promised Morocco the 2030 World Cup final. The Hindu reports that Infantino is seeking support from member federations including Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Qatar and Morocco. FIFA’s next presidential election is scheduled for March, with nominations open until November 18.
The Indian Opinion
Claims that Infantino has lost all support overstate the evidence, just as portraying the failed sell-off as a minor setback ignores opposition from UEFA and other stakeholders. His backing among several member associations may protect him, but public criticism and the collapse of a plan worth up to $4.2 billion expose a serious leadership test. The clearest measure will be how many credible challengers enter the race before November 18.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
