FIFA president Gianni Infantino is hoping to get the support of Africa and other small Nation members for support, and his re-election, rather than the powerful members in Europe.
Infantino is facing the biggest crisis of his decade-long tenure after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF declared no confidence in his leadership following the abortive proposal to bring private equity into the World Cup.
Wales on Monday became the first soccer federation to formally withdraw support for Infantino, while European body UEFA confirmed it had written to the 56-year-old Swiss to inform him it was weighing legal action against him regarding the proposal.
The FIFA boss has also confirmed his intention to stand for a fourth term at next year’s Congress in April.
While his opponents may decide to push for an early exit for him through an Extraordinary Congress (EC) if 20% of FIFA’s membership of 211 member associations request one in writing, Infantino is also not lying low.
He’s turning to member countries in Africa and Asia who were sympathetic to his course.
Nigeria’s FIFA executive council member Amaju Pinnick was already pushing for Nigeria Football Federation (NFF’s) support for Infantino’s World Cup stake sale, before the cookie crumbles.
The leadership of the Africa body, CAF have also not spoken against the move, to give a glimmer of hope that they will not leave him in the limbo.
Infantino has build a steady relationship with Africa since stepping in as president, helping to take their World Cup slots to ten.
Even if UEFA have a hold on its 55 member nations voted to vote against Infantino, he can still swing off his reelection with the support of Africa and small nations in Asia.
He’s been loyal to emerging nations like Cabo Verde and countries that have never competed at a World Cup and rely overwhelmingly on FIFA to support their football programmes and participate in international events.
FIFA members have been able to claim up to $3 million for soccer development projects over the course of the 2023-26 World Cup cycle, $1 million more than the previous cycle.
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He will also enjoy the support of Vanuatu, whose association head Lambert Maltock has a seat at FIFA’s highest table as one of eight vice-presidents in the body’s Executive Council.
It is reported that FIFA gave the island nation of about 340,000 people a development grant of $4.15 million to help build a 6,500-seat stadium in the capital Port Vila, which was completed in 2022.
Pinnick in Nigeria has also secured massive support in dollars for FIFA goal project in Nigeria, to a point that he took one to his home town Warri in Nigeria.
For Vanuatu’s first professional player, Brian Kaltak, Infantino’s backing has been a huge boost for the country and developing nations generally.
“First of all, he gave a chance for our president to be part of FIFA and then with development projects, he’s been trying to grow the game — not just Vanuatu but all third-world countries,” the Perth Glory defender told Reuters on Monday.
“He’s opening up more chances for a team like ours, for nations like ours to make it … It’s been a massive help.”
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Similar funding splashes are common across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, where FIFA grants have financed training pitches, gyms and soccer programmes that national associations would otherwise struggle to finance.
