US President Donald Trump has warned FIFA that replacing Gianni Infantino as president would be a "terrible mistake," following backlash over Infantino's failed attempt to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
Trump's endorsement on Truth Social
In a post on his Truth Social platform early Tuesday, Trump praised Infantino, saying: "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino. He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented."
Trump added: "If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!"
Pressure on Infantino
Infantino has faced mounting criticism after proposing FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company to manage FIFA's commercial and operational aspects, with plans to sell about 20 percent to private investors. He later apologized for the proposal.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF have accused Infantino of "deception" and held preliminary talks about staging competitions independently, according to the Press Association.
Confederations' response
An open letter co-signed by the heads of UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF called for an independent review of Infantino's scheme, without naming him directly. The letter stated: "Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it. When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned."
