FIFA President Gianni Infantino received a vote of confidence from the leaders of six Arab football associations on Thursday, providing a measure of support as he navigates a deepening crisis sparked by his abandoned proposal to secure private equity investment for the World Cup.

The formal endorsement was issued by the leadership of Morocco—a co-host of the 2030 World Cup—alongside Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan. Notably, four of these signatories currently hold positions on the FIFA Council.

"We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide," the joint statement declared.

The group further expressed deep appreciation for Infantino’s efforts to "advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together."

The signatories emphasized their intent to maintain close cooperation with the FIFA chief to foster a "stronger and more prosperous future for world football" and to bolster the contribution of Arab nations to the sport.

Infantino’s presidency has been under intense scrutiny following his controversial attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

The USD 20 billion proposal was eventually withdrawn following a fierce international backlash, led by UEFA, which threatened a total boycott of FIFA-sanctioned events.

In a scathing open letter released Monday, UEFA united with CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to condemn the plan as a "fundamental breach of trust" and an act of "deception."

The diplomatic fallout continues to spread, with several national federations formally distancing themselves from the incumbent.

On Thursday, the Football Association of Ireland announced it would no longer support Infantino’s re-election bid in March, citing "recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation."

This move follows similar withdrawals of support last week by soccer governing bodies in England and Wales, while Northern Ireland has explicitly aligned itself with UEFA’s opposition.

New Zealand Football, representing the Oceania confederation, added to the pressure on Friday, confirming the withdrawal of its support for Infantino’s candidacy.

The organization demanded an independent review regarding the development of the "FIFA Forward Enterprise" scheme, stating that recent executive actions have "contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust."

The situation has exposed internal fractures, particularly within the Asian bloc.

By publicly backing Infantino, Qatar and Lebanon have effectively positioned themselves against the stance of the Asian Football Confederation.

Infantino’s personal Instagram account has mirrored this effort to consolidate support by sharing letters from several other members, including the United Arab Emirates.

The six officials spearheading this show of loyalty include FIFA Council members Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Qatar), Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), and Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), alongside Hashem Haidar (Lebanon) and Moatasem Gafar (Sudan).

Despite the growing wave of dissent, Infantino—who has led FIFA since 2016—had previously appeared poised for an uncontested re-election next year in Morocco. FIFA has established a deadline of November 18 for potential challengers to officially enter the race.

Source: AP