FIFA defends Infantino, says critics bypass its voting procedures
FIFA has dismissed criticism directed at its president, Gianni Infantino, saying it comes from figures who lack backing among the organization's member associations, Qazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
World football's governing body published a statement on its official account on X on Saturday, August 8, describing what it called sustained and coordinated attempts by certain individuals to weaken Infantino's standing at the head of the federation.
Those who do not enjoy the support of FIFA's member associations, the statement said, should not seek through "accusations, insinuations or disinformation" what they are unable to secure within the organization's established democratic procedures.
FIFA added that recent publications on the subject contained unsubstantiated assertions and what it described as clearly false claims about both the federation and its president. The statement did not specify which claims it was referring to.
The response came against the backdrop of controversy over a proposal to partially privatize international tournaments, an initiative that has since been put on hold.
Under FIFA's statutes, the president is elected by the FIFA Congress, where each of the 211 member associations casts a single vote. Infantino has led the organization since February 2016 and was returned to the post in 2019 and again in 2023.
Earlier, Qazinform reported that scrutiny of Infantino's position at the head of FIFA intensified after the organization dropped its controversial plan to open the World Cup and other flagship tournaments to private investors.
