New Zealand break ranks with Oceania as FIFA’s Infantino divide grows

Oceania have offered support to Gianni Infantino, but New Zealand have gone against their own confederation in FIFA row. New Zealand has become the latest nation to withdraw its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid over his aborted commercial rights stake sale plan, while Oceania’s confederation cautiously backed the ⁠governing body’s leadership. Infantino has faced open revolt after three confederations – Europe’s UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean) – called for a review of his leadership and attacked his conduct over the plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions. Infantino will seek re-election for a fourth term in ⁠charge of the global governing body at the FIFA Congress next year, with the African and South American confederations declaring their continued support. The proposal came with a $20m grant for member associations for the next funding cycle, an amount that could have been doubled if they signed the deal.

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