Argentine Football Association Backs FIFA President Infantino

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has formally expressed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino through a letter sent to the organization. The missive, signed by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, reflects a unified stance from the leaders of the ten South American nations comprising CONMEBOL.

This show of solidarity emerged after CONMEBOL's virtual council meeting, where the primary agenda item was Infantino's proposed, but since withdrawn, initiative to create a company, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to organize World Cups with potential private capital investment. CONMEBOL had previously issued criticisms of the project while offering veiled support for Infantino's administration.

The AFA's letter echoes sentiments from other CONMEBOL members, notably Paraguay, highlighting support for Infantino's decade-long tenure. It commends the "development of football worldwide and institutional solidity based on a clear, stable, and transparent governance model." The AFA acknowledged the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, recognizing that it "generated, within the football family and from its inception, many more uncertainties than certainties."

Furthermore, the AFA praised Infantino's "acknowledgment of the errors committed in said process and the apology expressed" to FIFA's 211 member federations. The association stressed the importance of prioritizing governance norms for strengthening relationships between FIFA, its member associations, and confederations. Tapia, known for his close ties with Infantino, emphasized that Infantino's leadership has driven a "profound transformation of FIFA."