ÖFB rejects Infantino candidacy after criticism of FIFA president
In the boardroom of the Austrian Football Association’s supervisory board on Saturday, the Austrian Football Association announced that it does not support the renewed candidacy of FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, while pressure on the 56‑year‑old Swiss president continues to rise. Criticism of his management, especially his plans to sell World Cup rights to private investors, has so far neither been convincingly clarified nor refuted.
Criticism of Infantino intensifies
Under pressure: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing increasing criticism. The criticism of him therefore continues to grow, because the allegations have so far neither been convincingly clarified nor refuted. In a statement from the ÖFB it says that the allegations have not been refuted.
ÖFB follows UEFA line
The association, after a meeting of the ÖFB supervisory board on Saturday, decided not to support the renewed candidacy of FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Austria’s football association emphasizes that it fully and firmly stands behind the joint line of Uefa".
The 56‑year‑old Swiss is in the biggest crisis of his more than ten‑year tenure. The FIFA President is under growing pressure. The crisis was triggered by his publicly announced plans to sell World Cup rights to private investors. Infantino has now withdrawn the sale.
The investors were supposed to come from the circle of US President Donald Trump. With this idea Infantino had previously caused a stir, but he has since discarded it. Infantino intends to stand for re‑election next year, although UEFA wants to prevent another electoral victory.
France, Italy and the Netherlands have already opposed him. The ÖFB, however, sticks to its line and supports UEFA’s position. The situation shows that support for the FIFA President continues to wane. Thus the next election of the FIFA President could become one of the most controversial decisions in the history of world football.