“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the Italian-Swiss lawyer “fantastic” and saying he “presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.”
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”
Trump’s backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the Fifa leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organisations in Central America and the Caribbean.
Other football organisations, including the Confederation of African Football and South American governing body Conmebol, share Trump’s position in supporting Infantino.
Infantino, who faces reelection in March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, and Fifa has backed its besieged president following a meeting on Wednesday, calling the backlash “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the organisation.
Infantino is facing a revolt after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.
“It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him,” the game’s powerbrokers in Europe, North America and Asia said in a letter.
“These are not the qualities football deserves in its leadership. That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.” (AFP & AP)