FIFA: Infantino has asked Trump for help to keep his job
According to press reports, the president of the world football federation is said to have received a salary of 30 million from the FFE project
Gianni Infantino has sought the help of Donald Trump to retain his position as head of FIFA amid mounting pressure for him to resign. This is according to the New York Post, citing two informed sources who claim that Infantino is scheduled to have a telephone conversation today with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. FIFA sources, however, have denied to Fox News that any such call with Rubio – or “with any other member of the Trump administration, either today or on any other day” – took place.
The latest revelations regarding the FIFA Forward Enterprise case appear to be decisive: according to the British newspaper *The Times*, Infantino was set to receive a salary of over 30 million euros, plus bonuses, thanks to his FFE plan.
World Cup to private organisations: Infantino does an about-turn. UEFA: ‘Fine, but he’s lost our trust’
‘After listening carefully to all points of view, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of such a nature that, regardless of the level of support, it is no longer in the interests of the objective set out. Our aim has always been – and always will be – to unite and improve. Consequently, this proposal will not be taken forward”. Thus, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has made a U-turn, in an official statement, regarding the proposal to selling the World Cup to private funds, whilst leaving the door open to a new subsidiary company to manage its commercial rights.
This change of course has been welcomed by the Union of European Football Associations – which had unanimously threatened to boycott all upcoming international competitions – but it does not quell the storm of controversy that is rocking the world of football.
Over the coming days and weeks, UEFA intends to work with its member associations and in close collaboration with the other confederations “to reflect on how this could have happened and to draw up a plan to ensure that it does not happen again”. This is an extract from the statement in which the European football governing body expresses its satisfaction at FIFA’s withdrawal of the plan that would have opened the sport up to private investors. “This review must be thorough and radical. No option should be ruled out. The current leadership of FIFA has not only lost the trust of UEFA, but also that of many other members of the football family”, the statement concludes.
