Gianni Infantino has launched a two-footed assault on UEFA as he battles to save his FIFA presidency.
UEFA announced on Thursday that they will continue to boycott FIFA competitions if Infantino remains at the top of world football after his scandalous plans to sell £3.1billion in World Cup stakes to private investors collapsed.
Meanwhile, Infantino has also faced allegations this week that UEFA made a ‘departure payment’ to a female employee with whom he is alleged to have been in a relationship with while general secretary of European football’s governing body.
UEFA have confirmed a payment was made, but FIFA labelled the allegation as ‘categorically untrue’.
Another turbulent week in football governance culminated in FIFA slamming Infantino’s critics in a 315-word statement on Saturday evening – accusing both the media and UEFA of a smear campaign against the organisation’s chief.
‘Echoing the recent statements of CONMEBOL and CAF, as well as discussions with FIFA Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, FIFA will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the FIFA President that is inconsistent with FIFA’s Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework,’ the statement read.
‘The FIFA President was democratically elected by FIFA’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.
‘It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President.
‘Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously,’ a statement released by football’s governing body read earlier
‘Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.
‘Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.
‘The FIFA President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football.
‘Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s President or the institution he was elected to lead.
‘FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, FIFA will challenge it directly and vigorously.
‘FIFA’s responsibility is to its 211 Member Associations and to football around the world. We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global.
‘Through the FIFA President and the FIFA administration, our focus remains firmly on that mission, and we are more determined than ever to fulfil it.’
UEFA have become increasingly isolated in their resistance to Infantino, with only CONCACAF – the body for North, Central America and the Caribbean – taking a similar stance to the European governing body. There have been fractures in that opposition, however, with Mexico rallying behind Infantino.
UEFA are the sole continental confederation boycotting FIFA tournaments, which one source described to Daily Mail Sport as ‘the only way to force Infantino out’. But, with the endorsement of Africa, Asia and South America, he can fight on.
As it stands, the FIFA president appears to have enough support to survive a vote of no confidence and secure a fourth term in next March’s election.
