Infantino holed up in Salé as federation leaders mobilise against FIFA
Gianni Infantino has been reported by the Times to be "holed up" in Salé this week as he attempts to preserve his presidency amid a mounting revolt by football federations.
Salé, across the river from Rabat on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, has undergone rapid redevelopment over recent decades and since last July has hosted the African headquarters of Fifa; the area’s transformation has included a tram system, a marina, a business park called Technopolis and cleared slums, according to the report.
Infantino’s aides have been contacting Fifa Legends, the organisation’s paid ex-player ambassadors, seeking public endorsements, and on Wednesday Luís Figo broke his silence, saying: "Infantino must go," and condemning the president’s plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup as "the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed."
Leaders of Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation are described as "massing forces at the gates," with a proposed "governance boycott"—members refusing to attend meetings or ratify Fifa decisions—under consideration and a rival World Cup-style competition presented in the report as the nuclear option that would equate to secession.
The article notes this backlash has emerged after a series of earlier controversies: it is almost eight years since Fifa first proposed selling a slice of its commercial legacy, and in 2018 Infantino agreed in principle a deal with the Japanese firm SoftBank, backed by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund, for an expanded Club World Cup and global Nations League; that scheme later sputtered to a halt without the level of protest currently visible.
Further incidents cited include the Qatar World Cup four years ago and Infantino’s "today I feel gay" speech that attracted ridicule, Saudi Arabia being awarded the 2034 tournament two years ago in a bidding process the piece says no other country appeared prepared for, the Club World Cup being coerced into existence three years ago amid player welfare concerns, Omar Artan’s denial of entry to a World Cup two months ago despite being due to referee, and Folarin Balogun’s suspension being overturned a month ago in a process described as supposedly independent.
The article criticises the economics of Infantino’s most recent investment plan, listing "One hand-picked buyer (Joshua Kushner), one made-up number ($20 billion) and an artificial countdown clock (19 September)," and reports that Infantino’s reported instinct when cornered was to appeal to Donald Trump — "his roof, his protection, his kindred spirit." It also reminds readers that more than a decade ago Lord Triesman described Fifa as a "mafia family."
Federation leaders are now weighing measures that include a governance boycott and, at the extreme, the creation of a rival World Cup-style competition; Infantino remains, according to reports, based in Salé as he seeks to defend his position and the immediate contest over his presidency appears set to proceed along those fault lines.