Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o has thrown his support behind beleaguered FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying he “hasn’t done anything wrong” despite facing mounting pressure to step down over a controversial World Cup selloff plan. Infantino has come under intense scrutiny since the collapse of a proposal to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. UEFA, which oversees European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their support for Infantino.
However, Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, dismissed criticism of Infantino’s leadership, suggesting the backlash was driven largely by political manoeuvring ahead of FIFA’s presidential election next year. The FIFA president remains under pressure, with the possibility of a no-confidence vote being triggered. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have all voiced concerns over FIFA’s direction in recent weeks.
But the Confederation of African Football (CAF) earlier this month “unanimously reconfirmed its support” for Infantino, and Eto’o’s backing is aligned with that position. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that.
We need to accept and recognise what he’s done, and we should support him for everything he’s done up to now.” Meanwhile, a group of former international players, including World Cup winners and FIFA legends, called on Monday for immediate change at FIFA, saying its leadership under embattled Infantino had been blinded by power. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football,” the group said. The group also includes former Peru forward Claudio Pizarro, former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron, former Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, and FIFA legends Didier Drogba and David James.
FIFA legends are former players recognised for their contributions to the sport who help promote football on behalf of the global body, playing in exhibition matches and supporting social and charity projects worldwide. There are good people within FIFA who want to rebuild trust, but a new era requires a structural change: a real, direct say for players and fans in how football is run,” the group said. Infantino is up for re-election next year, but world football’s regional powerhouses are discussing whether to move a vote of no confidence in him ahead of the ballot, senior figures familiar with the discussions told the news agency last week.
For the fans, for the players, and for the good of the game, we will be silent no more,” the players’ group said.
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