Qatar, Morocco among six Arab federations backing Fifa’s Infantino

Six Arab national football associations, including Qatar and Morocco, have rallied behind Fifa President Gianni Infantino, praising his efforts to globally expand football and create opportunities for all regions. This support comes as the world governing body faces turmoil following a failed private investment plan. Infantino, who is seeking re-election next year, has come under heavy criticism from three major confederations (UEFA, AFC, and Concacaf) who called for his resignation over the aborted bid to inject private investment into Fifa competitions, including the World Cup.

The Swiss administrator's proposal involved separating commercial rights from the World Cup and selling 20% to private investors in order to generate approximately $4.2 billion.

Acknowledging the critical role of Arab football in fostering unity and boosting collaboration among football associations across the Arab world, the heads of the six federations expressed unwavering support for Infantino and reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership. The joint statement, signed by the leaders of Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, and Mauritania, highlighted Infantino's persistent commitment to advancing football globally, broadening opportunities across all regions, and strengthening the sport's capacity to unite people and communities.

The six signatories are also members of the Fifa Council. They expressed deep appreciation for Infantino's tireless efforts and optimism for continued cooperation with him to achieve a more robust and prosperous future for world football. Infantino's proposal for a $20 million grant to member associations for the upcoming funding cycle was withdrawn, but could have been doubled if the signatories had agreed to the deal.

Despite the opposition from the three confederations, which represent 136 of the 211 member associations voting in the upcoming Fifa presidential election in March, Infantino still possesses numerous allies within the football community.