Zurich: The Confederation of African Football's Executive Committee has unanimously confirmed its support for beleaguered FIFA president Gianni Infantino, at odds with its counterparts in Europe, North America, and Asia.
According to Ghana Web, on the day UEFA announced its commitment to boycotting future World Cups at all levels while Infantino remains in office, CAF's top decision-making body sided with the FIFA president as he seeks re-election in March next year. CAF, which comprises 54 of FIFA's 211 member associations, represents a significant voting bloc that has largely supported Infantino since he took office in 2016.
CAF issued a statement that read, 'The CAF EXCO unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over years.' CAF president Patrice Motsepe expressed appreciation for FIFA's pledge to review the processes that led to the controversy causing the fiercest revolt of Infantino's tenure as national federations felt sidelined over the abandoned proposal to sell a slice of the World Cup's commercial future.
Motsepe stated, 'CAF welcomes and endorses the 'Joint Update' by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom,' while emphasizing the importance of good governance and transparency in global football. He added, 'We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its member associations, other football Confederations, and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process, and transparency global best practises and to contribute to the development and growth of football worldwide.'
CAF's support provides some relief to Infantino, who has faced near-global condemnation for his aborted plan to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and sell commercial rights to the World Cup. Earlier this week, several of Africa's most influential football leaders issued statements in support of Infantino, also welcoming the decision to drop his controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup revenue.
CAF vice president Fouzi Lekjaa from Morocco and fellow FIFA Council members Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger), and Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) all pledged their support for Infantino. Veron Mosengo-Omba, recently elected president of the football federation in the Republic of the Congo and former CAF general secretary, also lent his voice in support.
Motsepe was notably positive in his praise for Infantino even before the World Cup sell-off scandal surfaced. He remarked, 'I personally support Gianni Infantino. He's just a good friend. He's a loyal friend. He's loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.'
FIFA itself issued a statement on Wednesday fully backing Infantino.