FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended a youth football tournament in the Caribbean despite being asked to stay away by a senior football official. Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF and a vice president at FIFA, had requested that Infantino reconsider his participation at the event in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Montagliani expressed concern that the FIFA leader’s presence would distract from the youth competition amid ongoing governance turmoil at the international football body.
The appearance marked Infantino’s first public outing since withdrawing a controversial proposal to sell future World Cup commercial rights to private investors. The plan, revealed in late July, sparked significant backlash from football leaders and fans worldwide. Montagliani and other FIFA vice presidents have criticized Infantino over the failed initiative, accusing him of deception for developing the scheme in secret over an extended period.
Infantino shared photos from the Caribbean event on social media showing meetings with local political and football officials. When confronted by a journalist about whether he should resign, the FIFA president avoided directly addressing the question. With his re-election campaign expected to launch before a November deadline, Infantino appears focused on maintaining support among regional football confederations.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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