By Andrew Warshaw
January 29 – Gianni Infantino appears to have stolen a march on his rival candidates for the FIFA presidency by gaining the support of South American federations who comprise 10 of the 209 voting countries.
CONMEBOL said in a statement that its executive committee had agreed to give the UEFA general secretary unanimous backing in the February 26 election.
That doesn’t necessary mean the federations will follow suit because the exco has no vote but it seems highly likely Infantino did enough at the CONMEBOL congress in Paraguay to wrest support away from his rivals, especially Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.
CONMEBOL said it “unanimously agreed to vote as a bloc for Mr Gianni Infantino” next month. The confederation’s past three presidents have been indicted in the United States in the corruption scandal that has brought FIFA to its knees but newly elected CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay has vowed to turn the page.
With the likelihood of gaining a big majority of his 53 members in Europe, Infantino could already have more than 70 votes in the bag. Africa’s strategy, potentially key to the outcome of next month’s ballot with its 54 votes, will become known after the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee meeting on February 5 in Rwanda.
CAF signed a working agreement this month with the Asian Football Confederation, whose president, Sheikh Salman of Bahrain, appears to be the leading contender in the five-candidate race.
CONMEBOL’s endorsement of Infantino came two days after it elected Dominguez who succeeded another Paraguayan, Juan Angel Napout.
Napout had previously pledged support to UEFA President Michel Platini but both have since been suspended for different alleged offences while Platini has withdrawn from the election.
Infantino has yet to be endorsed by the English Football Association, though he is scheduled to meet the media on Monday at Wembley Stadium to outline his plans.
“I am honoured to have the unanimous support of my colleagues at CONMEBOL and I’d like to thank them, along with colleagues from UNCAF, UEFA and the many other Football Associations that have declared their support for my candidacy and my vision to take FIFA and Football vision to take FIFA and Football Forward,” Infantino responded.
“I have met and discussed the future of FIFA and the global game with many Football heads all over the world in recent weeks and months and these conversations, based on placing Football back on the centre stage, have reaffirmed my view we are at the dawn of a new era. We must seize this opportunity and introduce a new order of responsible leadership at FIFA.
“Associations are the bedrock of our game and I look forward to meeting with more colleagues between now and 26 February to discuss how together we can deliver change and rebuild trust in FIFA. I will work tirelessly to restore FIFA’s reputation and give back to the game the credible, trustworthy governing body it deserves. Together we can take FIFA Forward.”
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