Sports
RWA | Mar 16, 2023

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino gets re-elected

Al Edwards

Al Edwards / Our Today

administrator
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Looking for football to bring in more money

FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (File Photo: REUTERS/Matthew Childs)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was re-relected earlier today (March 16) in Kigali, Rwanda, for a further four years.

He stood unopposed and promised to bring in more revenue for football’s top governing body.

“It is an incredible honour and privilege and a great responsibility. I promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world. To all those that love me and I know there are many, and those who hate me… I love you all.”

Under his presidency, incomes have risen considerably and got to US$7.5 billion in 2022 despite COVID shuttering the world the previous year. It is a remarkable achievement.

NEW RECORD REVENUES PROMISED

“When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at around US$1 billion, today they are almost $4 billion.

“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).”

FIFA has been criticised for what some called shady practices and corruption, particularly under Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter.

“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.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Infantino promises a new regime and greater transparency.

“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.

“Every single dollar that is being invested in projects and associations will undergo an independent audit. Money just doesn’t get lost any more.”

Infantino, 52, a trained lawyer, has been in office for seven years now. He will be FIFA’s boss until 2027.

“If a CEO tells stakeholders that the products were multiplied by seven, I believe that they would keep that CEO forever. But I am here for a four-year cycle only,’’ he said.

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