Infantino re-elected FIFA president, telling critics 'I love you all'
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[March 16, 2023]
By Philbert Girinema
KIGALI (Reuters) - Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president
during the 73rd Congress in Kigali on Thursday, promising record
revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for
more football to be played around the world.
Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of
football's governing body a formality, even if he is not universally
popular among member associations amid controversies including the
treatment of migrant workers in the run-up to last year's World Cup
in Qatar and a failed plan to play the tournament every two years.
"It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great
responsibility," Infantino said. "I promise to continue serving FIFA
and football around the world.
"To those that love me, and I know there are many, and those who
hate me ... I love you all."
Infantino confirmed FIFA’s income hit record levels in the last
cycle from 2019-22, but promised to substantially raise this again
on the back of expanded men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments and
the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup.
"Revenues rose to a record $7.5 billion (to 2022) in a period that
was hit by COVID-19. When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at around
$1 billion, today they are at almost $4 billion," Infantino said.
"We promise new record revenues for the next cycle of $11 billion,
and the new Club World Cup is not included in that figure, so it
could increase by a couple of billion (more)."
Infantino said FIFA would continue to review the transfer system to
"improve transparency" and suggested the organisation might discuss
a salary cap.
"We must improve our regulations and the FIFA statutes. We will
continue to evolve our good governance principles and look at the
transfer system, and maybe have a discussion to improve transparency
of transfer fees and salaries.
"It might be necessary to introduce a cap, we have to think how we
can do that. We will look at it with all stakeholders and see what
we can do."
LGBT RIGHTS
Amid the financial success of his seven years in office, Infantino
has also courted controversy that has made him unpopular with some
member associations.
He accused critics of host Qatar’s human rights record of hypocrisy
and racism at the World Cup.
The tournament in the desert state led to a significant amount of
political discussion around the host's treatment of migrant labour,
its approach to LGBT rights and FIFA's threats to penalise players
for political statements.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino
addresses the 73rd FIFA Congress at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda
March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Jean Bizimana
This included the banning of the
anti-discrimination "One Love" armband which drew anger from a
number of quarters.
FIFA has previously spoken about setting up a legacy fund to assist
and compensate migrant workers who helped build the stadiums and
other infrastructure for the World Cup, but as yet no concrete plans
have been revealed and Infantino made no mention of it in his
address.
He did suggest that FIFA had cleaned up its act with regards to
governance.
"Every single dollar that is being invested in projects and
associations will undergo an independent audit. Money just doesn’t
get lost any more.
"That is why the institutions have regained their trust in FIFA. The
Department of Justice of the United States has given us more than
$200 million back that was stolen by corrupt officials. We have
re-invested that in football."
Player welfare groups have questioned FIFA's decision to expand the
men's World Cup from 64 to 104 games, but Infantino says there needs
to be more football played around the world.
"When I hear there is too much football, yes, maybe in some places,
but not everywhere. In fact, in most parts of the world there is not
enough football played.
"We need way more and not less competitions, we want football to
develop worldwide.
"We are discussing organising a women’s Club World Cup and a FIFA
World Series in March every two years, when teams are free from
playing qualifiers."
Infantino was first elected in an Extraordinary Congress in 2016
following the resignation of his predecessor Sepp Blatter, and
retained his position unopposed three years later.
But this counts as his second term of office and he will therefore
be available for a third and final term in four years' time.
(Writing by Nick Said; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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