Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying he has "not done anything wrong" as pressure mounts over the failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to external investors.
Infantino, 56, reversed his decision to sell a share of the tournament after widespread criticism, but UEFA has already confirmed a loss of confidence in his leadership. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also criticised Infantino, claiming he is the wrong man to make decisions on the future of the game.
Eto'o defends Infantino's record
Speaking to CNN Sports, Eto'o, who also played for Everton, said: "I don't think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong. I think the timing of all of that is because there's an election coming out, when Gianni Infantino is standing. All of this has happened because there's an election coming out, that's all there is."
Eto'o, who is president of the Cameroonian football federation, added: "President Gianni Infantino has changed football. He's given opportunities to nations that didn't have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions.
"He has helped our continent. He's helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that. We need to accept and recognize what he's done, and we should support him for everything he's done up to now."
World Cup project defended
While Infantino's plan drew criticism from the bigger nations, Eto'o claimed it would have benefited his country. He said: "The bigger nations took up the media space. They gave their point of view, and President Gianni Infantino wanted to keep the family of football together, and he decided to withdraw the project.
"I remain convinced that for us as Africans, this project was something that could have been incredible. It would have reset the balance of power in football to ensure that our talent doesn't disappear and end up playing for other nations.
"At the end of the day, those who have talked about the project and who've given their opinion haven't properly read what it's all about, and in some cases, they looked at it from their dominant position."
Eto'o called on other federation presidents to re-examine the proposal, saying: "I want to see all of my colleagues, all of the presidents, re-reading the project. After President Infantino is re-elected, we will have the strength to ask for this project to be put back on the table for discussion.
"I remain convinced that, if there is a democratic vote, this project will be adopted because it's good for the majority."
