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Danish Football Union chairman urges critical federations to speak out against FIFA president Infantino
🇩🇰 Denmark /Sports

Danish Football Union chairman urges critical federations to speak out against FIFA president Infantino

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Danish Football Union chairman Jesper Møller urges national federations critical of FIFA President Gianni Infantino to publicly state their position.
  • Møller's call comes after UEFA dropped its threats of boycotting FIFA tournaments following assurances that FIFA would not pursue plans to sell stakes in its events to private investors.
  • UEFA has stated it can reinstate boycott threats if circumstances require, emphasizing the importance of protecting football's integrity.

Jesper Møller, chairman of the Danish Football Union (DBU), has called for national football federations to publicly declare their opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino if they desire a change in leadership. "We expect the national federations that share our concerns about Gianni Infantino's leadership to now make their position clear," Møller stated, emphasizing that "if FIFA is to have new leadership, it requires those who want change to also step forward and say it out loud."

We expect the national federations that share our concerns about Gianni Infantino's leadership to now make their position clear.

— Jesper MøllerMøller's statement urging federations to publicly declare their stance on Infantino's leadership.

This statement follows UEFA's decision to drop its threats of boycotting FIFA tournaments. The European football governing body had previously warned of potential boycotts after revelations that Infantino was considering selling stakes in FIFA's tournaments to private investors. UEFA has now received written guarantees from FIFA that this project will not be revived, leading to the suspension of the boycott threats.

If FIFA is to have new leadership, it requires those who want change to also step forward and say it out loud.

— Jesper MøllerMøller's emphasis on the need for open support for leadership change within FIFA.

Møller confirmed his full support for UEFA's approach, calling the outcome a "significant victory for football." He explained that UEFA's pressure, including the possibility of boycotts, was always contingent on receiving these assurances. "We did not want to boycott, but accepted that it might become necessary to protect football," Møller said, adding that "we were willing to go to the utmost to protect the soul of football."

It is a significant victory for football that FIFA has now given the assurances in writing that we, together with UEFA, have demanded.

— Jesper MøllerMøller's reaction to FIFA providing written guarantees against selling stakes in tournaments.

Despite suspending the boycott threats, UEFA has made it clear that they can quickly re-initiate a boycott "if the circumstances require it." The DBU chairman's call for transparency aims to consolidate support for potential challengers to Infantino's presidency, stressing the need for a credible alternative to emerge.

We were willing to go to the utmost to protect the soul of football.

— Jesper MøllerMøller explaining the extent to which UEFA was prepared to go to protect football's interests.
About this summary

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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