FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reportedly sought the support of United States President Donald Trump as pressure mounts over calls for him to step down from office.
Infantino is facing growing opposition following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights to private investors, a plan that sparked widespread criticism from football stakeholders.
The embattled FIFA chief is said to have reached out to the Trump administration in a bid to strengthen his position, including arranging talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after reportedly failing to secure direct contact with Trump. The discussions were said to be framed around football’s role in advancing US soft power, although sources claimed Infantino’s main objective was to safeguard his presidency.
His troubles intensified after he abandoned plans to create a new commercial entity that would have sold a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s future tournament revenues to private investors. The proposal triggered opposition from several football confederations, with UEFA and other stakeholders accusing FIFA of a lack of transparency and poor governance.
The controversy has fuelled calls for Infantino’s resignation, while some football associations have reportedly begun withdrawing support for his re-election bid ahead of the next FIFA Congress.
