Despite mounting pressure and calls for his resignation, FIFA President Gianni Infantino maintains significant support as the March presidential election approaches. While European and North American confederations have voiced strong opposition following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, other global soccer leaders continue to stand by the incumbent.
Samuel Eto’o, the former professional star and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), has emerged as a vocal defender of the FIFA chief. In an exclusive interview, Eto’o stated, “I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” suggesting that the current backlash is merely a byproduct of the upcoming election cycle. Eto’o, who has led FECAFOOT since 2021, credited Infantino with transforming the sport by expanding opportunities for smaller nations to participate in the World Cup and accelerating the development of football infrastructure across Africa.
The FFE proposal, which aimed to redistribute wealth to help smaller nations compete with global powerhouses, remains a point of contention. Eto’o argued that the plan was misunderstood by larger, more dominant federations and expressed hope that it would be revisited after the election. “I remain convinced that, if there is a democratic vote, this project will be adopted because it’s good for the majority,” he said, adding that he intends to push for the proposal to be put back on the table once Infantino is re-elected.
The political landscape within FIFA remains deeply divided. While UEFA has threatened to boycott upcoming tournaments—including the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in September—and bodies like CONCACAF and the AFC have demanded leadership changes, Infantino retains pockets of support. Beyond the Confederation of African Football, individual associations such as the Argentinian FA, as well as members from Mexico, Qatar, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have signaled their backing for the FIFA president.
The path forward for critics remains complex. Under FIFA statutes, an extraordinary congress could be triggered if 20% of the 211 member nations submit a formal written request, potentially leading to a vote of no confidence. However, the process for such a move remains legally ambiguous. As the November 18 deadline for candidates to declare their intent approaches, the focus remains on the numbers game among the 211 national associations, with the ultimate decision on Infantino’s future set to be decided at the polls next year. The report also notes that it might have felt inevitable that Gianni Infantino would be forced to resign as FIFA president, in recent weeks. The report also notes that and the rising tide of criticism following his failed attempt to rush through his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal seemed overwhelming, the walls were closing in on him. The report also notes that and yet, despite calls for him to step down still echoing around the sport, Infantino is still holding on to power with the FIFA presidential election fast approaching in March. The report also notes that the current FIFA boss does have some support swimming in the sea of objectors, and while some don’t want to wait that long to have the chance of toppling Infantino. The report also notes that scoring countless goals and winning major trophies for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid, eto’o was once one of the best players in the world. The report also notes that that’s all there is.”, all of this has happened because there’s an election coming out. The report also notes that who has been battered from pillar to post by a host of confederations, eto’o’s voice will come as a welcome refuge for Infantino. The report also notes that including the current host Poland, that would mean six of the qualified teams wouldn’t play.
