Monday, 25 November, 2024

FIFA: Gianni Infantino re-elected President, promises more revenue


Gianni Infantino has been re-elected president of the world football governing body, FIFA during the 73rd Congress in Kigali.

Following his re-election by acclamation, the 52-year-old Swiss promised record revenues of $US11 billion in the next four-year cycle. He also called for more football to be played around the world.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (Image: @eurofootcom)

Infantino stood unopposed during Thursdayā€™s re-election bid and was only going to win it.

ā€œIt is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great responsibility,ā€ Infantino said. ā€œI promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world.

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ā€œTo those that love me, and I know there are many, and those who hate meā€¦ I love you all.ā€

Just as he was re-elected, Infantino confirmed FIFAā€™s income hit record levels in the last cycle from 2019-22.

He however promised to considerably raise this again with the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup and the expansion of the menā€™s and womenā€™s World Cup tournaments.

ā€œRevenues rose to a record $US7.5 billion (to 2022) in a period that was hit by COVID-19. When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at around $US1 billion, today they are at almost $US4 billion,ā€ Infantino said.

ā€œWe promise new record revenues for the next cycle of $US11 billion, and the new Club World Cup is not included in that figure, so it could increase by a couple of billion (more).ā€

Infantini also promises transparency and evolution of government

The football governing chief said FIFA would continue to review the transfer system to ā€œimprove transparencyā€ and suggested the organisation might discuss a salary cap.

ā€œWe must improve our regulations and the FIFA statues. 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.

ā€œIt 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.ā€

Image: Twitter

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.

However, with Infantino being re-elected FIFA President now, it means this will only count as his second term and will therefore be available for a third and final term in four yearsā€™ time.

“… the institutions have regained their trust in FIFA”

Infantino also indicated that FIFA had cleaned up its act with regards to governance.

ā€œEvery single dollar that is being invested in projects and associations will undergo an independent audit. Money just doesnā€™t get lost any more.

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ā€œThat 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.ā€

Indeed, player welfare groups have questioned FIFAā€™s reason(s) for the expansion of the menā€™s World Cup from 64 to 104 games, but Infantino stated that “in most parts of the world there is not enough football played.”

ā€œWe need way more and not less competitions, we want football to develop worldwide.

ā€œWe are discussing organising a womenā€™s Club World Cup and a FIFA World Series in March every two years, when teams are free from playing qualifiers.ā€


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