Arab football backing strengthens Infantino as Morocco remains firmly in his camp
Arab support for Gianni Infantino is growing as several European federations distance themselves from him. Having already backed the FIFA president in August, Morocco now sees its position reinforced by the Union of Arab Football Associations.
Meeting on Thursday, 1 October, in Jeddah, the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) expressed its support for Infantino, Reuters reports. The organization, which brings together 22 federations, praised his work to develop football and strengthen cooperation between governing bodies.
On Bladi.net : The football world turns against Infantino, Morocco comes to his aid
For Morocco, the declaration extends a commitment that was already public. In August, Fouzi Lekjaa joined the heads of the federations of Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan and Mauritania in backing the FIFA president. The kingdom had therefore chosen its side before this joint statement.
That support carries more weight as opposition in Europe gathers pace. On Wednesday, 30 September, the Swiss federation announced that it was withdrawing its support for Infantino’s candidacy. It joins England, France, Wales and Serbia, among others, in distancing themselves from him.
Arab backing complicates UEFA’s plans
UEFA intends to put forward a rival candidate before the November deadline. But the positions taken by confederations do not guarantee those of their member federations, each of which has one vote in the election.
That is precisely the point made by City AM. The UAFA brings together African and Asian associations: its support for Infantino makes it harder to build a united electoral front against him, particularly in Asia. The Gulf federation had also voiced its support a few days earlier.
The split stems from a now-abandoned plan to open some of FIFA’s competitions’ commercial activities to private investors. Beyond that initiative, opponents are challenging the organization’s governance and the way decisions are made.
On Bladi.net : Gianni Infantino’s future will be decided in Morocco
Infantino has proposed an independent review of FIFA’s decision-making procedures in response to the criticism. The campaign for the March 2027 election is therefore unfolding on two fronts: the reforms sought by his opponents and the support gathered by the incumbent. On the latter, the Moroccan federation has already declared its support for him.
