Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the IOC, on Gianni Infantino: “His leadership has become radioactive”
Infantino is seeking a fourth term as president of world soccer’s governing body but some observers feel his time is up.
FIFA promised that the 2026 World Cup would be the biggest and best yet - with more teams than ever before, more revenue, an unprecedented global reach. In many ways it did indeed live up to those expectations with close to 7 million fans attending matches in person (a 99.7% occupancy rate) and new average television audience records set - the USMNT’s Round of 16 clash with Belgium drew a peak audience of 41.03 million, an all-time record.
An all-round success story which has only made the post-tournament events - friction and division between FIFA and its six continental governing bodies even more difficult to digest.
Barely over a week after Spain hoisted the trophy in New Jersey, FIFA president Gianni Infantino rolled out a proposal for the creation of a new commercial entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise, inviting private investors to acquire a stake in the company’s commercial and operational activities - which relate to FIFA’s blue ribbon tournaments. According to some estimates, the sell-off would rake in a windfall of around $20 billion - more revenue to line FIFA’s deep pockets.
The plan has not been received well by UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC and OFC. And for good measure, some emotional blackmail - Infantino very gave them a deadline to accept the plan.
Soccer associations turn their back on Infantino
UEFA responded by threatening to boycott all of FIFA’s upcoming competitions. Meanwhile Infantino, who will seek a fourth term as president, is now in the firing line. The Welsh FA and Romanian Football Federation have both withdraw their support for him and others will follow.
Some even think that Infantino could be gone by the time of March’s FIFA congress. Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee, thinks the privatization plan signals the end for the Swiss executive.
“I do not think we have ever seen such a fast fall from grace by a sports leader,” Payne told AFP. “One week ago, Infantino was riding high from delivering a very successful World Cup, and expected to run unopposed for election next year to continue his mandate as president of FIFA. Now Infantino will struggle to survive the month. How does he find himself in this mess - gross hubris!”
Presidential elections on the horizon
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is one of the strongest candidates to replace Infantino. Others who could run include Mattias Grafstrom, and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. The 77th FIFA Congress will be held in Rabat, Morocco on March 18 and support for Infantino is declining with each day that passes.
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