FIFA could disburse millions of dollars to its member associations as president Gianni Infantino seeks support for a fourth term in office amid growing opposition to his leadership.
The proposed payments will be discussed at a meeting of the FIFA Council on October 15, after Infantino wrote to the heads of the governing body’s six regional confederations.
Infantino said he would support the highest level of additional funding that could be delivered responsibly through FIFA’s governance process, although he did not commit to a specific sum.
“I will not prejudge the amount,” he wrote, according to reports in US media. “I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through FIFA’s proper governance process, applied fairly and supported by transparent and auditable arrangements.”
He added: “A single figure can begin the discussion, but it cannot complete a global policy. I have therefore instructed the Secretary General to consolidate all submissions into one integrated assessment for consideration by the FIFA Council.”
Infantino faces opposition before FIFA election
The proposal is being viewed as an attempt to reassure regional football bodies and their leaders as Infantino, 56, prepares to defend his position. He confirmed earlier this month that he would stand again, despite criticism and the prospect of legal challenges.
Infantino has faced particular opposition over plans for FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed new entity focused on the commercial and operational aspects of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments. The plan involved selling about 20 per cent of the entity.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have called for payments to FIFA’s member associations. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani wrote to FIFA seeking funding, while AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa made a similar request.
Had the Forward Enterprise plan gone ahead, every member nation would have received at least 20 million dollars. The letter from UEFA and CONCACAF called for a minimum payment of 10 million dollars to each association from FIFA’s reserves.
Infantino later abandoned the private equity plan but rejected calls to resign. One of the proposed investors was Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to US President Donald Trump’s daughter. Trump is described as a close ally of Infantino.
The English Premier League and the leading leagues of Spain, Italy and Germany also called for governance reform at FIFA last Friday. In a joint statement, they accused Infantino of promoting “exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them”.
FIFA presidents are limited to three four-year terms. Infantino has argued that his first period in office, which began after his election in 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s resignation, should not count because it completed an interrupted mandate.
His eligibility to seek a fourth term has been challenged by critics and rights groups, who have asked FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee to block his candidacy.
Infantino plans to run in March. With seven weeks remaining for potential candidates to declare their intention to oppose him, no challenger has yet come forward.
