United States president Donald Trump has weighed in on the controversy surrounding FIFA after the federation’s president, Gianni Infantino, proposed a plan to sell a minority stake of the organization to private investors.
In the midst of the news, other governing bodies of soccer and world leaders have expressed distrust in Infantino and suggested his position should be on the line.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday, Aug. 10. “He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”
The United States was a co-host of this summer’s World Cup with Mexico and Canada. It was the largest tournament yet, with a field of 48 teams playing 104 matches in 16 cities across three countries and breaking viewership and attendance records.
Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino look on after presenting the trophy.
1 / 16Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino look on after presenting the trophy.
2 / 16Trump shakes hands with Lionel Messi after the game.
3 / 16Spain captain Rodri lifts the World Cup trophy while Trump and Infantino look on.
4 / 16FIFA president Gianni Infantino shows the winners’ medal to Trump.
5 / 16Spain celebrates with the World Cup trophy as Trump and Infantino look on
6 / 16Spain captain Rodri lifts the World Cup trophy while Trump and Infantino look on.
7 / 16Infantino and Trump hand the World Cup trophy to Spain.
8 / 16Infantino and Trump carry the World Cup trophy to present to spain.
9 / 16Infantino and Trump carry the World Cup trophy to present to spain.
10 / 16Infantino and Trump before the trophy presentation.
11 / 16Trump gives Lionel Messi his runner-up medal.
12 / 16Trump shakes hands with Lionel Messi after the game.
13 / 16Trump gives Lionel Messi his runner-up medal.
14 / 16Spain players celebrate with the trophy while Infantino tries to get Trump off the stage.
15 / 16Trump presents Lamine Yamal with a World Cup winner’s medal.
16 / 16Infantino and Trump congratulate Spain players.
Infantino scrapped the proposal, called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), after the plan received severe criticism from Concacaf and UEFA saying it would boycott all FIFA tournaments if the deal went through. Even after the plan was shelved, both organizations released statements continuing to express their distrust in the leader.
Several world leaders have said they lost trust in Infantino, including Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney and United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
“I don’t have confidence in Mr. Infantino after this point given what transpired and given the nature of what transpired,” Carney said.
The football federations of Mexico and Argentina have expressed their support of Infantino, who is up for reelection in March.
In December, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize. For the World Cup, Trump called Infantino and asked him to review USMNT player Folarin Balogun’s red card. FIFA did rescind the penalty ahead of the round of 16, but Infantino said Trump did not influence the decision. Trump and Infantino attended the final match together and the U.S. leader handed the trophy to the winner, Spain.
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