Infantino attends Punta Cana Under-14 event despite request from vice-president Montagliani
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended an Under-14 Caribbean Football Union youth tournament in Punta Cana on Saturday, posting photographs on Instagram of meetings with political and football officials despite a request from FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani to stay away. The appearance came amid a governance dispute over Infantino's withdrawn plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.
Montagliani wrote to Infantino on Friday, warning that his presence would draw attention away from the youth competition because of the controversy around the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. "I believe that considering the governance crisis surrounding FIFA as a result of your controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, the media will focus on this situation," Montagliani wrote in a letter seen by The Associated Press. "As such, I respectfully ask you in the name of football to reconsider your attendance as it will unfortunately undermine the technical nature of this important youth development activity," he added. FIFA declined to comment on Montagliani's request, while pointing out that the governing body directly funds regional organisations such as the CFU with up to $5 million from each four-year World Cup cycle.
Montagliani has joined UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and Asian Football Confederation president Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in publicly challenging Infantino's leadership. The three FIFA vice-presidents accused Infantino of "deception" after reports emerged about a plan to transfer FIFA's multi-billion-dollar commercial operations into a new subsidiary. That plan would have granted 20% ownership to investors led by Joshua Kushner.
Infantino abandoned the proposal on August 1 following widespread opposition from football officials and fans. The controversy intensified after FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly criticised the proposal and Infantino's leadership style. Lamour was subsequently fired this week.
The Caribbean has been identified in coverage as a potential battleground in the wider power struggle inside FIFA, with its member federations viewed as possible supporters for Infantino as he seeks to strengthen his position against CONCACAF leadership. South America's CONMEBOL has also backed Infantino. CONMEBOL sees him as a potential route towards its ambition of hosting more matches at the 2030 World Cup, which it wants expanded from 48 to 64 teams.
Infantino has not taken questions publicly since the 20 billion USD FIFA Forward Enterprise project was first revealed on July 28. He faced further scrutiny in Punta Cana on Friday when Sky News reporter James Matthews asked whether he had betrayed football and should resign. He did not directly answer. Instead, he thanked the reporter and joked about both men being bald.
The FIFA president is seeking a fourth and final term that would keep him in office until 2031. The election will take place at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, next March, with November 18 set as the deadline for candidates to enter the race.
