Six Arab Federations Back FIFA President Infantino Amid Crisis

aZurich: Six heads of Arab national football associations, including Qatar and Morocco, have expressed their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid the ongoing crisis following a failed private investment plan. This backing comes as Infantino, who is seeking reelection next year, faces intense criticism from three major football confederations-UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF-over his aborted proposal to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.According to TRTworld.com, Infantino's controversial plan involved selling 20 percent of the commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors in a bid to raise approximately $4.2 billion. However, the proposal was retracted after significant backlash. In a joint statement, the heads of the six federations, including Qatar's Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Morocco's Fouzi Lekjaa, and Mauritania's Ahmed Yahya, reaffirmed their confidence in Infantino's leadership and commitment to developing football worldwide.The statem ent emphasized the vital role of Arab football in fostering cooperation and unity among football associations across the Arab world. It also highlighted the ongoing support for Infantino's efforts to promote football globally and enhance opportunities across all regions. Notably, four of the signatories are also members of the FIFA Council, indicating strong support within the organization.Despite the backing from these six federations, opposition to Infantino's leadership has been growing. Ireland recently joined the list of countries withdrawing their support for Infantino. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) cited concerns over governance, transparency, and insufficient consultation in rescinding its earlier support for Infantino.Infantino's withdrawn proposal included a $20 million grant for member associations in the next funding cycle, which could have doubled had the plan been executed. Following a crisis meeting in Morocco, FIFA issued an apology to its 211 member associations for mishandlin g the proposal, reiterating support for Infantino's leadership.While the three opposing confederations represent a significant portion of the voting base in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, Infantino still commands substantial support. The full backing of the six Arab federations, many of which are part of the AFC, indicates that block voting remains improbable. The Confederation of African Football has also expressed its support for Infantino.In the upcoming election, Infantino would require a simple majority of 106 votes if faced with only one rival. However, if there are three or more candidates, a two-thirds majority or 141 votes would be necessary in the first round.