Infantino claims support but leaves UEFA document timetable unclear
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the vast majority of world football still supports him after the abandoned proposal to sell competition rights. UEFA has requested documents explaining that plan. Infantino says a legal process governs their release but gave no clear date for providing them, as the next presidential election approaches. UEFA wants the papers by November 2; candidate registration closes on November 18.
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Infantino offers no clear date for UEFA’s papers
Gianni Infantino, president of world football’s governing body FIFA, says he retains broad support after abandoning the FIFA Forward Enterprise commercial-rights proposal. He gave no clear date for supplying documents requested by UEFA, European football’s governing body, saying their release was subject to a legal process.[1], [2]
The proposal would have sold part of the commercial rights to FIFA competitions to a private investment firm. Infantino withdrew it within days. UEFA requested the rationale and other key documents by November 2. He said questions would be answered as far as the legal process permitted.[1]
Confederation leaders had challenged the proposal
The presidents of UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, had signed a letter accusing Infantino of damaging trust. At the previous week’s FIFA Council meeting he apologised over communication and consultation. In the new interview he accepted that his administration might have handled some matters less well and said dialogue with UEFA should become more frequent.[1]
Election registration closes in November
Infantino described backing from Asian and African football, presenting his own assessment of his political support. Candidates for the March presidential election must register by November 18; no challenger had yet filed, according to BBC Sport. He spoke from the FIFA under-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, where teams from 189 member associations are participating. The games use smaller pitches, eight-a-side teams and 20-minute halves.[1]
