Infantino re-elected FIFA president, telling critics ‘I love you all’

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino addresses the 73rd FIFA Congress at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda on March 16,

KIGALI – Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali on Thursday, promising record profits in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world.

Infantino is standing unopposed, making his re-election as head of football’s governing body a formality, although he is unpopular among member associations amid controversies including the treatment of migrant workers during last year’s World Cup in Qatar and plans to fail to play the tournament. every two years.

“This is an incredible honor and privilege, and a great responsibility,” Infantino said. “I promise to continue to serve FIFA and football around the world.

“To those who love me, and I know there are many, and to those who hate me… I love you all.”

Infantino confirmed FIFA’s record revenue for the last cycle from 2019-22, but promised to raise it again on the back of the expanded men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments and the introduction of the 32-team Club World Cup.

“Revenues increased to $7.5 billion (until 2022) during the period affected by COVID-19. When I arrived, FIFA’s reserves were around $1 billion, now they are almost $4 billion,” said Infantino.

“We promise a new profit record for the next cycle of $11 billion, and the new Club World Cup is not included in that figure, so we can add a few billion (more).”

Infantino said FIFA would continue to review the transfer system to “improve transparency” and suggested the organization could discuss the salary cap.

“We need to improve FIFA’s regulations and statutes. We will continue to develop the principles of good governance and look at the transfer system, and there may be discussions to improve the transparency of transfer fees and salaries.

“It may be necessary to introduce a cap, we have to think about how we can do it. We will look at it with all the stakeholders and see what we can do.

LGBT RIGHTS

Amidst his financial success during his seven years in office, Infantino has also courted controversy that has made him unpopular with some member associations.

He accused critics of Qatar’s human rights record hosts of hypocrisy and racism at the World Cup.

The tournament in the desert country led to a significant amount of political discussion about the host’s treatment of migrant workers, the approach to LGBT rights and FIFA’s threat to punish players for political statements.

These include the “One Love” anti-discrimination ban that has sparked outrage from some quarters.

FIFA has previously talked about setting up a legacy fund to help and compensate migrant workers who help build stadiums and other infrastructure for the World Cup, but no concrete plans have been revealed and Infantino did not mention it in his address.

He suggested that FIFA had cleaned up its act in terms of governance.

“Every dollar invested in projects and associations will undergo an independent audit. Money is no longer lost.

“That’s why the institution has regained confidence in FIFA. The United States Department of Justice has returned more than $200 million stolen by corrupt officials. We have reinvested in football.

Player welfare groups questioned FIFA’s decision to expand the men’s World Cup from 64 to 104 games, but Infantino said more football should be played around the world.

“If I hear there is too much football, yes, maybe in some places, but not everywhere. In fact, in many parts of the world there is not enough football being played.

“We need more competition and not less, we want football to grow worldwide.

“We are discussing organizing the women’s Club World Cup and the FIFA World Series in March every two years, when teams are not playing qualifiers.”

Infantino was first elected to an Extraordinary Congress in 2016 after the resignation of his predecessor Sepp Blatter, and retained his post unopposed for the next three years.

But this is considered a second term and will therefore be available for a third and final term of four years.

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