{
  "id": 292975,
  "title": "Africa backs Infantino as CAF unanimously votes in FIFA president’s favour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/africa-backs-infantino-as-caf-unanimously-votes-in-fifa-presidents",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-08T02:56:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/africa-backs-infantino-as-caf-unanimously-votes-in-fifa-presidents-favour/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Confederation of African Football's Executive Committee has unanimously backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, despite opposition from other FIFA voting blocs. This comes at a time when UEFA has pledged to boycott future World Cups while Infantino remains in office. CAF, which comprises 54 out of FIFA's 211 member associations, has been a loyal supporter of Infantino since he took office in 2016. Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, welcomed FIFA's commitment to review the processes that led to controversy surrounding Infantino's plan to sell commercial rights to the World Cup. Motsepe stressed the importance of good governance and transparency in global football. CAF's support will provide some relief to Infantino, who faced near-global condemnation for his aborted plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise and sell commercial rights to the World Cup.",
  "summary": "The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unanimously backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, despite tensions with other regions such as Europe, North America, and Asia. The CAF's Executive Committee decision came as UEFA announced its commitment to boycott future World Cups while Infantino remains in office. With 54 out of FIFA's 211 member associations, CAF is a significant voting bloc that has largely supported Infantino since his presidency began in 2016. CAF president Patrice Motsepe welcomed FIFA's pledge to review the processes that led to controversy surrounding the abandoned proposal to sell a portion of the World Cup's commercial rights. He emphasized the importance of good governance and transparency in global football, pledging continued collaboration with FIFA and its member associations. Infantino, who has faced criticism for his aborted plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise and sell commercial rights to the World Cup, received support from five influential African football leaders, including CAF vice president Fouzi Lekjaa and other FIFA Council members.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Norway Football Federation calls for FIFA president to resign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/norway-football-federation-calls-for-fifa-president-to-resign",
        "published": "2026-08-08T04:37:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "FIFA president Infantino denies alleged affair, calls UEFA claims 'defamatory'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-president-infantino-denies-alleged-affair-calls-uefa-claims",
        "published": "2026-08-08T06:25:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Fifa president Gianni Infantino denies claims Uefa paid off alleged ‘lover’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-denies-claims-uefa-paid-off-alleged",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:27:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TheCable",
        "title": "‘Outright falsehood’ — NFF denies backing calls for FIFA president to resign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/outright-falsehood-nff-denies-backing-calls-for-fifa-president-to",
        "published": "2026-08-08T19:22:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Indonesia's PSSI Backs Gianni Infantino for FIFA President Reelection",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/indonesias-pssi-backs-gianni-infantino-for-fifa-president-reelection",
        "published": "2026-08-09T01:34:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}