FIFA president Gianni Infantino has garnered renewed support from several South American football chiefs while visiting the countries, amid mounting pressure over his tenure as president of football’s governing body.
Infantino was in Cali on Friday for the inauguration ceremony of Colombian president Abelardo de la Espriella, having arrived at the ceremony as FIFA continues to face criticism after its contentious plan to allow private investment in its World Cup failed last week.
The president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), Alejandro Dominguez, spoke in defence of the FIFA president even though the body he represents recently voiced its objections to FIFA’s unilateral decision-making.
‘You cannot overlook the great work that Infantino is doing, the CONMEBOL president said, adding that ‘football leaders, and those who lead sport, need to continue to work within this dialogue even when there is disagreement.’
Previously, the Argentine and Paraguayan football associations had already given their commitment to Infantino, following the governing body’s abandoning its FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, and also pledged their support for the FIFA president, as did Venezuela and Ecuador.
Ecuadorean federation chief Francisco Egas Larreategui expressed his confidence in Infantino and the present FIFA leadership to continue with their positive work. This backing for Infantino should give him confidence going into the FIFA presidential election in March when he will be hoping for his fourth and final presidential term.
Yet opposition remains firm in Europe, where UEFA is still threatening to boycott the World Cup after FIFA abandoned the controversial private investment venture. Infantino’s presidential crisis, however, shows no sign of ending.
