FIFA rejects ‘misleading’ claims and backs Gianni Infantino amid growing election tensions

FIFA has reaffirmed its support for president Gianni Infantino and warned that any attempt to change its leadership must follow the organisation’s statutes and democratic procedures.

Infantino is facing increasing opposition, particularly from UEFA, which is reportedly seeking to remove him over a series of controversial decisions and proposals. The latest was a plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to investors, an idea the FIFA president eventually abandoned following pressure.

The governing body also responded to recent media reports concerning Infantino’s previous relationship with UEFA. The Daily Telegraph reported that UEFA had provided money to one of its female employees because of her relationship with Infantino, who was serving as the confederation’s general secretary at the time.

In a statement published on its official social media accounts on Sunday morning, a FIFA spokesperson said: “Following the recent statements issued by CONMEBOL and CAF, as well as discussions with member associations and confederations around the world, FIFA will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of a president that does not comply with the FIFA Statutes, democratic procedures and the established governance framework.”

The statement added: “The FIFA president was democratically elected by FIFA’s member associations and continues to perform his duties under the mandate granted to him.”

FIFA said there were increasingly clear signs of an organised campaign against both the organisation and its president.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that there are ongoing and coordinated efforts by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” the statement said. “Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegations, insinuations or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.”

The governing body also criticised parts of the recent media coverage, saying claims had been made without supporting evidence.

“Recent media coverage has included unsupported assertions and demonstrably false allegations about FIFA and its president,” it said. “Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition of an allegation does not make it true.”

FIFA defended Infantino’s record in football and rejected suggestions that disagreement with his policies should be used to challenge his position.

“FIFA’s president has devoted more than 30 years of his professional life to European and global football and has contributed to significant changes in the game, particularly by expanding access to football, resources and opportunities across the world,” the statement said.

“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify attempts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead.”

The organisation said it accepted legitimate scrutiny but would respond forcefully when it believed reports were inaccurate or misleading.

“FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny, but scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsupported claims or manufacture distractions intended to undermine progress,” it said. “When media coverage is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will address it directly and robustly.”

The statement concluded by stressing FIFA’s responsibility to its 211 member associations and to football worldwide.

“FIFA has a responsibility to our 211 member associations and to football around the world,” it said. “We will not allow ourselves to be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, serving our member associations and continuing to work to make football truly global.”

It added that FIFA’s leadership remained “fully focused” on that mission and was “more determined than ever” to deliver it.