The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino following an executive committee meeting on Thursday, providing a significant boost to the embattled leader as he faces mounting global criticism over a now-shelved proposal to open the World Cup to private investment.
CAF, which comprises 54 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, represents a powerful voting bloc that has largely backed Infantino since he assumed office a decade ago. In a statement, the African body thanked Infantino for his support of African football over the years, though its president, Patrice Motsepe, emphasized the need for good governance and transparency. The endorsement offers Infantino some relief as he campaigns for a fourth and final term in Elections scheduled for March.
However, CAF’s stance contrasts sharply with near-global condemnation. UEFA, European football’s governing body, reiterated on Thursday its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments, stating it has lost confidence in Infantino’s presidency and that its key conditions for returning to FIFA events have not been met. South American confederation CONMEBOL also issued a critical statement, expressing concern over “repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature.”
CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have both been critical of Infantino but had not yet reacted to the latest developments. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, viewed as a potential rival for the FIFA presidency, previously called for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency.” Meanwhile, more countries are reportedly withdrawing support for Infantino’s candidacy.
The widening split between African and European football leadership underscores the deepening governance crisis within FIFA. As Infantino seeks to consolidate support ahead of the March election, the ability of rival confederations to coordinate opposition will likely determine whether his bid for a fourth term succeeds or falters.
