Qatar and Morocco are among six Arab football associations that have publicly expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, despite growing criticism of his leadership following the collapse of a controversial private investment proposal.
Six Arab Federations Express Support
The football associations of Qatar, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan and Mauritania issued a joint statement backing Infantino and reaffirming their confidence in his leadership.
The statement highlighted the role of Arab football in strengthening cooperation and bringing communities together, while praising Infantino’s efforts to expand football opportunities worldwide.
Qatar’s football federation chief, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the heads of the other five associations signed the statement.
Infantino Faces Growing Opposition
Infantino is seeking re-election next year but has faced increasing pressure after UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF criticised his handling of a proposed private investment plan.
The proposal would have separated the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and offered a 20% stake to private investors, potentially raising around $4.2 billion. FIFA later abandoned the plan following widespread criticism.
Four Signatories Are FIFA Council Members
Four of the six federation leaders who signed the statement also sit on the FIFA Council.
They include:
- Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar
- Hany Abo Rida of Egypt
- Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco
- Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania
Their support adds significant weight to Infantino’s position ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Ireland Withdraws Support
The backing came as Ireland announced that it had withdrawn its previous support for Infantino.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) cited concerns over governance, transparency and a lack of meaningful consultation following recent events.
Ireland said it remained grateful for FIFA’s support of Irish football but had decided to rescind its earlier letter of support.
FIFA Attempts to Move Past Investment Crisis
The abandoned investment proposal had included a $20 million grant for FIFA member associations in the next funding cycle. Associations could potentially have received twice that amount if they agreed to the investment deal.
Following a crisis meeting in Morocco, FIFA apologised to its 211 member associations over mistakes in handling the proposal and said Infantino retained the organisation’s leadership support.
Election Math Remains Uncertain
Although UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF represent 136 of FIFA’s 211 member associations and have opposed Infantino’s approach, the latest statements highlight the difficulty of predicting voting blocs.
Each national federation has one vote, meaning individual associations can vote independently of their confederations.
Infantino would need 106 votes for a simple majority if he faces only one challenger. If three or more candidates contest the election, he would need 141 votes, or two-thirds of the total, in the first round.
A Divided FIFA Landscape
The latest developments show that Infantino continues to have significant support across Arab and African football, even as opposition grows elsewhere.
With the FIFA presidential election approaching, the balance between national associations and regional confederations could play a decisive role in determining whether Infantino secures another term.