Gambiaj.com – (LONDON, United Kingdom) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing fresh allegations after reports claimed he promised Morocco the right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for political backing ahead of his re-election bid.
According to British newspaper The Times, Infantino made the alleged pledge during a closed-door crisis meeting with senior FIFA officials on Wednesday at FIFA’s African regional headquarters near Rabat. The meeting was held away from the media amid mounting pressure on the FIFA chief over his leadership.
The report alleges that Infantino offered Morocco the opportunity to stage the tournament’s showpiece final in return for its support as he seeks another term as FIFA president.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with the three co-hosts expected to compete for the honor of staging the final.
Crisis Meeting Amid Growing Pressure
The allegations come as Infantino battles criticism following his now-abandoned proposal to allow private investment funds into FIFA’s operations. The plan sparked widespread opposition across the football world, forcing the FIFA president to withdraw the initiative.
Although Infantino currently remains the sole declared candidate for re-election, the controversy has weakened his standing within international football.
His difficulties deepened last week when one of his senior advisers resigned, saying he was “categorically opposed” to Infantino’s plans.
UEFA and Figo Join Critics
Opposition to the FIFA president has also emerged from European football.
UEFA has publicly criticized Infantino’s leadership, while Portuguese football legend Luís Figo called for his departure.
Writing in the Daily Mail on Wednesday, Figo declared, “Infantino must go,” adding to growing criticism of the FIFA chief ahead of the organization’s next presidential election.
Neither FIFA nor the Moroccan authorities had publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting. The claims, first reported by The Times, have not been independently verified.
Leave a Reply