CFU backs FIFA boss

AP:

The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) announced yesterday it will endorse Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president in the election in March.

Infantino recently made two trips to the Caribbean, including this week, to secure the bloc’s support despite lingering controversy over his aborted World Cup investment plan.

“The CFU emphasises that it determined its collective position through consultation with its member associations,” the organisation said in a statement. “In this same spirit the CFU continues to call for increased transparency, good governance, and meaningful reform within the football family.”

The CFU has 31 member nations, 25 of which hold voting rights.

This marks the second major voting bloc to publicly declare its backing for Infantino. Last month, the Asian Football Confederation, which represents 47 member associations, endorsed him for another term.

The filing deadline for candidates is November 18. The first challenger emerged when FIFA council member Kohzo Tashima — a colleague of Infantino for nearly 11 years — announced on Thursday he intends to run for president.

Infantino’s re-election prospects have been significantly boosted by FIFA’s plan to increase financial contributions to member associations from $10 million to $25 million, a substantial figure for smaller Caribbean nations.

Beyond direct financial support, FIFA won favour with the countries through investments in development initiatives like the FIFA Forward programme. On Thursday, Infantino announced a $5.3 million investment in Aruba to build seven artificial turf pitches at clubs across the island.

“For CFU member associations, many of which continue to operate with limited financial and human resources, these programs have contributed to efforts to strengthen football development and create opportunities across the region,” the statement added.

An Associated Press tally published last month indicated that Infantino — even before the CFU’s endorsement — was already closing in on a majority among FIFA’s 211 member federations.

Infantino’s leadership of FIFA has come under intense scrutiny since July, when his secretive plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors including Josh Kushner was revealed in media reports.

A global backlash, including by senior FIFA executives, saw Infantino drop the project within days.

“The CFU offers its support with the expectation that FIFA will continue to strengthen accountability, uphold the highest standards of governance, and pursue the reforms necessary to ensure that every member association is fairly represented and served,” the statement added.