FIFA President Gianni Infantino is open to discussing the distribution of millions of dollars to the member associations of FIFA as he seeks re-election to the position he has held for 10 years. The amount of funding to individual nations will be addressed at the FIFA Council's meeting on October 15, according to a letter Infantino sent to the heads of the six regional confederations, as reported by media in the United States on Monday.
Infantino stated, "I will not prejudge the amount. I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through FIFA’s proper governance process, applied fairly and supported by transparent and auditable arrangements." He emphasized that while a single figure can initiate discussions, it cannot finalize a global policy and has instructed the Secretary General to consolidate all submissions into one integrated assessment for consideration by the FIFA Council.
This initiative is perceived as Infantino's effort to appease regional football bodies and their leaders amid increasing opposition to his leadership. Earlier this month, Infantino confirmed his bid for re-election despite widespread criticism and potential legal challenges.
Infantino has encountered significant opposition following his proposal to sell approximately 20 percent of a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which focuses on the commercial and operational aspects of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments. His leadership has faced scrutiny from regional football confederations and national associations, with the English Premier League and three other top European leagues recently calling for governance reform within FIFA.
A joint statement from leagues in Spain, Italy, and Germany accused Infantino of promoting "exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them." Infantino is viewed as a divisive figure in international football, with his close ties to powerful global leaders and revenue-maximizing plans raising concerns among critics.
With less than six months until the next FIFA presidential election, Infantino appears to be losing support among his traditional backers. FIFA presidents are limited to three four-year terms; however, Infantino has argued that his first term should not count toward this limit as it completed an interrupted mandate. His bid for a fourth term has faced opposition from critics and rights groups, who have urged FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee to block his re-election attempt.
The financial discussions follow calls from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC for Infantino's resignation over the FFE plan. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani have requested payments similar to those mentioned in Infantino's letter, with reports indicating that each member association could receive a minimum of $10 million from FIFA's reserves.
Infantino's FFE plan, which included investments from Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, was ultimately abandoned, but Infantino remains determined to run for re-election in March. As of now, no challengers have emerged ahead of the deadline for candidate announcements.