FIFA Expert: Infantino Will Seek a Way Out of Crisis

Former FIFA Ethics Commission chairman Hans-Joachim Eckert anticipates significant resistance from FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the world football governing body navigates its current crisis. Infantino has drawn considerable criticism for his unsuccessful proposal to sell World Cup broadcasting rights to private investors.

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Attack is the best means of defense, that has always been the case. He makes it clear that attacks from within FIFA or from other sides will be punished. He wants to soften things up, he doesn't want FIFA to look bad.

During a crisis meeting in Morocco, Infantino received backing from his inner circle and issued a warning about consequences for attacks on FIFA's integrity. Eckert interpreted this as a defensive tactic, stating, "Attack is the best means of defense, that has always been the case. He makes it clear that attacks from within FIFA or from other sides will be punished. He wants to soften things up, he doesn't want FIFA to look bad."

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Infantino will look for a way out, this crisis meeting is part of that. Is it the beginning of the end? It could be, but it doesn't have to be. Infantino will fight.

Infantino appears to be under immense pressure but shows no signs of stepping down. "Infantino will look for a way out, this crisis meeting is part of that. Is it the beginning of the end? It could be, but it doesn't have to be. Infantino will fight," Eckert told the German Press Agency (dpa). He described Infantino's behavior as typical for individuals in high executive positions, driven by the substantial income their roles provide.

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This is typical for all these people who also hold high positions in companies. He doesn't stand out from the crowd of others in that he fights for his position. He earns a lot of money with his job and he wants to stay in it.

Eckert, who led the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee from 2012 to 2017, oversaw lengthy bans for former FIFA President Joseph Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini. He and former chief investigator Cornel Borbély earned respect for imposing sanctions regardless of office. However, both were dismissed shortly before the May 2017 FIFA Congress under Infantino's leadership. Eckert supports the European football union (UEFA) threatening legal action against FIFA regarding the failed investor deal, noting that technology investor Joshua Kushner's firm was set to play a key role. He suggested that incriminating documents might disappear and that Kushner, with ties to the Trump administration, would likely not let any preparatory steps or investments go unchallenged.

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It is quite common for incriminating documents to disappear. We will see what comes out, how far these preliminary talks were, whether there were preliminary contracts, whether money flowed, etc. I don't think a Mr. Kushner with a Trump background will let himself be taken by surprise if something has already been prepared and he may have already invested money.