FIFA president Gianni Infantino defied a plea from CONCACAF’s acting head to skip an Under-14 tournament in the Dominican Republic amidst increasing anger over his running of world football’s governing body.
Infantino attended the CONCACAF Caribbean Union Youth football tournament in Punta Cana on Saturday and posed for pictures with political and football delegates and participants.
The CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani had told Infantino not to appear, warning that “the ongoing FIFA governance crisis threatens to eclipse a celebration for talented young footballers”.
Montagliani’s request followed Infantino backing down on controversial plans to sell off future World Cup revenues to private investment after meeting opposition from footballers, federations and fans.
Montagliani, along with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have both attacked Infantino over the management of FIFA and previously blasted a lack of transparency from the proposed private sale arrangement.
Infantino has managed to avoid answering questions since the controversial sale plan was dropped and, when approached by a Sky News reporter asking “do you think you should resign?”, remained silent on his visit to the 14-and-under international football event.
Infantino has already put himself forward for a record-equalling fourth full presidential term, which would complete his third term of office, at the election on March 21 next year in Rabat, with Friday, November 18 the deadline for candidates wishing to enter.
