FIFA Council Backs Infantino to Continue as President After Commercial Setback
FIFA’s senior executives have publicly reaffirmed their support for president Gianni Infantino, backing him to remain at the helm of world football’s governing body following a failed attempt to overhaul the organisation’s commercial operations, according to AllAfrica.
The endorsement from the FIFA Council came despite the collapse of a push to restructure how the Zurich-based federation monetises its flagship competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. While members declined to advance the specific commercial proposal, they indicated that they wanted Infantino to continue leading FIFA, a federation that oversees a sport played by hundreds of millions worldwide and distributes revenues across its 211 member associations.
Infantino’s tenure
Infantino was elected FIFA president in February 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter, who had stepped down amid a sweeping corruption scandal that engulfed the organisation. The Swiss-Italian administrator campaigned on a platform of reform and greater investment in football development, particularly outside Europe. During his tenure he has presided over growth in FIFA’s revenues from broadcasting and sponsorship deals, as well as an expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, set to take effect at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His leadership has not been without controversy. The proposed commercial overhaul that faltered this week was part of a wider effort to diversify FIFA’s revenue base ahead of future broadcasting and sponsorship cycles, as AllAfrica reported.
Looking ahead
With the council’s backing secured, Infantino is expected to continue pursuing structural reforms to FIFA’s commercial operations through separate consultations with stakeholders. The next FIFA Congress is scheduled for later this year, where member associations will have an opportunity to weigh in on the federation’s strategic direction. The outcome of this week’s vote is likely to shape those debates, signalling that the council is prepared to stand behind the president even when individual initiatives do not advance.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
