US President Donald Trump has come out in strong support of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying it would be “a terrible mistake” to replace him amid renewed criticism from three continental football confederations.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday.
Trump described Infantino as “fantastic” and credited him with presiding “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 added. The US President attended the World Cup final with Infantino last month. Infantino had earlier awarded Trump a “FIFA Peace Prize” at the World Cup draw ceremony last year.
Infantino came under renewed fire in an open letter signed by Europe’s UEFA, North and Central America’s CONCACAF and Asia’s AFC, accusing the world football boss of breaking trust “through deception.”
The confederations were reacting to Infantino’s withdrawn plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including World Cups. FIFA hit back on Saturday at efforts “to undermine” football’s governing body and Infantino.
However, Monday’s joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC retorted:
“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held.
‘When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.’”
Trump’s backing of Infantino is at odds with US Soccer, “who joined the voices lining up against the FIFA president.”
Infantino had “launched, and then withdrew in the face of scathing criticism, a plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including World Cups.”