Six Arab football federations have publicly expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, offering a vote of confidence as he faces mounting criticism over a controversial proposal to open World Cup-related commercial assets to private investors.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the football associations of Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan reaffirmed their backing for Infantino’s leadership, describing him as a key figure in the global development of football. Four of the signatories are members of the FIFA Council, football’s highest decision-making body between congresses.
“We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,” the statement said.
The federations praised Infantino’s efforts to expand opportunities across different regions and strengthen football’s role in fostering unity among nations and communities.
“We deeply appreciate Mr. Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together,” the statement added.
The Arab football bodies also pledged to continue working closely with the FIFA president to further develop the sport and enhance the contribution of Arab nations to world football.
The show of support comes as Infantino confronts growing opposition following his failed proposal to sell stakes in World Cup-related commercial ventures to private equity investors. The reported $20 billion plan was withdrawn after drawing strong criticism from football stakeholders across several confederations.
The backlash intensified earlier this week when UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a joint open letter describing the proposal as a “fundamental breach of trust” and accusing FIFA’s leadership of failing to adequately consult member associations.
The European governing body has reportedly warned of a potential boycott of FIFA competitions and events if concerns about governance and transparency are not addressed.
Opposition to Infantino’s leadership has also grown among national football associations.
On Thursday, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) announced that it had withdrawn its support for Infantino’s bid for re-election as FIFA president in March, citing concerns over governance, transparency and the consultation process surrounding the investment proposal.
The football associations of England and Wales had earlier taken similar positions, while the Irish Football Association, which governs football in Northern Ireland, aligned itself with UEFA’s stance.
In another setback for the FIFA president, New Zealand Football announced on Friday that it was withdrawing its support for Infantino’s candidacy and called for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
According to the Oceania nation’s governing body, recent decisions within FIFA had contributed to a growing trust deficit and increased divisions within international football.
Despite the mounting criticism, support from the six Arab federations provides Infantino with significant backing from a region that has played an increasingly influential role in global football, particularly following Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Morocco’s role as a co-host of the 2030 tournament.
The developments set the stage for what could become one of the most closely scrutinised FIFA presidential elections in recent years as debates over governance, transparency and the future direction of world football continue to intensify.
