Gianni Infantino: controversial FIFA boss reflects political change

After US striker Folarin Balogun's red card was suspended, UEFA said FIFA had crossed "a red line" and undermined the integrity of the World Cup. National associations and managers criticised the decision, including those of Belgian and England. It is just the latest item on a long charge sheet against Infantino. His close ties to the Saudi Arabian government came under scrutiny after FIFA awarded the country the 2034 World Cup, having awarded it to Qatar in 2022, and Russia in 2018. In no case has the host country been known for its unblemished human rights record.

Profits and popularity

Despite the heavy criticism, Infantino is popular in the non-western footballing community. Standing for a fourth term, as he is doing, is both unprecedented and forbidden in FIFA's rules, but he argues that he did not serve a full first term when he took over after Blatter resigned. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have both said that they will support Infantino again, as has South American football's ruling body, CONMEBOL.

Why the contrasting view of Infantino in Asia, Africa and South America? The first reason is money. As AFC President Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa stated in April: "FIFA is in its best position ever." He has a point. When Blatter was forced out, FIFA had a reported $550m black hole after sponsors walked away. Today, it is enjoying record revenues, with $13bn expected for the 2023-26 cycle. This was helped by an expanded World Cup (from 32 teams to 48) and an expanded World Club Cup last year.

A second, related reason, is where that money goes. Part of his election pitch was to ensure these record profits are spread more widely across FIFA's membership, which is of great appeal to associations that lack the lucrative football income enjoyed by UEFA members. Infantino promised, and delivered, an extra $5m for every national association during his first four years, and $40m for each confederation. In the next four years, $2.8bn was made available for investment across FIFA's 211 members. In his third term, this increased by 30%. As the BBC put in, "he has enriched some of the poorest and smallest footballing nations," and so bred fierce loyalty.

Reflecting a changing world

As well as funding thousands of footballing projects across the developing world, Infantino's reforms have allowed wider participation. Of the 16 new places created for this year's expanded World Cup, only three went to Europe, whereas Africa's representation leapt from five to nine, Asia's from four to eight, Central America's from three to six, and South America's from four to six. While Europeans bemoan a lack of ethics, non-Europeans clearly see the benefits.

Infantino's journey from UEFA stalwart to advocate for non-European football in many ways reflects changing global politics. His tenure has included Brexit, Trump, and Ukraine, to name but three. it was perhaps unsurprising that FIFA elected yet another Western president (eight out of nine permanent chiefs have been European), but since his election, Western power has diminished and the world has become multipolar.

In such a climate it is perhaps unsurprising that Infantino has seen the value of broadening his base away from his European heartland. Many praise him for embracing the Global South and granting greater agency from long marginalised regions, but his apparently willingness to cross sacred footballing 'red lines' (like allowing political interference in on-field issues) has turned many others against him. While he will still win a fourth term, he risks the credibility of FIFA in the long term.

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