FIFA pledges to defend Infantino after World Cup rights plan collapses

Infantino has faced leadership crisis as UEFA, AFC and Concacaf threaten drastic actions over commercial rights plan. FIFA’s leadership has reaffirmed its “full support” for President Gianni Infantino, days after he was forced to abandon a plan to sell off World Cup commercial rights that triggered a rare revolt within world football’s governing body. The declaration followed a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, called after mounting pressure from UEFA and other confederations threatened to derail Infantino’s expected re-election to a fourth term at FIFA’s Congress in March. In a statement, FIFA said Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom and members of its management board reiterated their backing for Infantino as “the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations”. Infantino reciprocated support for Grafstrom and FIFA’s administration.

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