FIFA Defends Gianni Infantino, Rejects Attempts to Undermine President Amid Ongoing Criticism

FIFA has issued a robust defense of its President, Gianni Infantino, asserting that a "concerted and ongoing effort" is underway to undermine both him and the world football governing body. In a statement released via FIFA Media on X, the organization declared its unwavering commitment to democratic processes and governance, vowing not to support, facilitate, or tolerate any presidential election procedures that deviate from FIFA's statutes.

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Echoing the recent statements of CONMEBOL and CAF, as well as discussions with FIFA Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, FIFA will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA's Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework. The FIFA President was democratically elected by FIFA's Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.

The statement echoed recent remarks from the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and reflected discussions with various FIFA Member Associations and Confederations globally. FIFA emphasized that Infantino was democratically elected and continues to serve with the mandate of the member associations. The organization suggested that individuals lacking sufficient support should not resort to "allegation, insinuation or misinformation" to achieve their goals.

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It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President. Those who do not have the support of FIFA's Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA's established democratic processes.

FIFA also directly addressed recent media reports, criticizing "unsubstantiated assertions" and "demonstrably false claims" concerning both the organization and its president. The statement cautioned against presenting speculation and insinuation as fact, noting that "repetition does not make an allegation true." The governing body pointed to Infantino's more than three decades of dedication to European and world football, attributing significant positive changes and expanded opportunities across the sport to his leadership.

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Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.

According to FIFA, while reforms and changes naturally challenge established interests, disagreement with such changes does not justify attempts to undermine the democratic mandate of the FIFA President or the institution itself. The organization maintains that Infantino's work has broadened access and resources within global football, and that opposition to these changes cannot legitimize efforts to destabilize FIFA's leadership or governance framework.

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The FIFA President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football. Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA's President or the institution he was elected to lead.