Trump Ally Defends FIFA President Infantino, Cites 'Jealousy' in Criticism

Andrew Giuliani, a former aide to U.S. President Donald Trump, has strongly defended FIFA President Gianni Infantino, dismissing calls for his removal as irrational. Giuliani, who previously worked with Infantino on the 2026 World Cup task force, stated that critics "need to have their heads examined."

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People get jealous when others achieve great things.

The defense comes amid backlash over the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have allowed private investors to buy stakes linked to the World Cup. The withdrawal of this plan has reportedly intensified demands from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation for Infantino to step down.

Giuliani characterized the criticism as politically motivated and fueled by jealousy, asserting that Infantino has significantly transformed FIFA and elevated the organization to unprecedented levels. He pointed to the 2026 World Cup as Infantino's first tournament secured during his presidency, noting that Infantino inherited the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

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This is the first one. It’s his own vision.

Warning football leaders against voting against Infantino, Giuliani called it a potentially "bad decision." He also lauded FIFA's financial and organizational achievements, citing the 2026 World Cup as the largest global sporting event, staged without major incidents and generating four times the revenue of the previous tournament. Giuliani even joked that anyone voting against Infantino might need a "mental examination."

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If Gianni Infantino is not unanimously re-elected, everyone who votes against him needs a mental examination.