Samuel Eto’o backs Infantino amid pressure over FIFA World Cup plan

Former Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o has defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying the under-fire football chief “hasn’t done anything wrong” despite growing calls for him to step down.

Infantino has faced mounting criticism following the collapse of a controversial proposal to attract private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while a number of continental and national federations have also expressed concern over Infantino’s leadership.

But Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, believes the backlash is largely linked to next year’s FIFA presidential election.

“I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker told CNN.

“I think the timing of all of that is because there’s an election coming out.”

Infantino’s investment plan was reportedly expected to generate significant funding for FIFA’s 211 member associations. However, it faced opposition from several confederations and was eventually abandoned.

The FIFA president remains under pressure, with the possibility of a no-confidence vote being raised.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, have all voiced concerns about the direction of FIFA in recent weeks.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), however, unanimously reaffirmed its support for Infantino earlier this month.

Eto’o has now echoed that position, calling on African football authorities to continue backing the FIFA president.

“President Gianni Infantino has changed football,” Eto’o said.

The former striker praised Infantino for expanding opportunities for countries that had previously struggled to compete at the World Cup.

“He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup,” he said.

“He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions.

“He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that.

“We need to accept and recognise what he’s done, and we should support him for everything he’s done up to now.”

Infantino, who was first elected FIFA president in 2016, is seeking another term at next year’s election as pressure over his leadership continues to grow.