Antigua defends embattled FIFA chief
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ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):
President of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA), Ickford Roberts, has revealed that the association continues to support embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino because of his focus on assisting smaller football nations, including those in the Caribbean.
The ABFA’s support for Infantino comes amid intense criticism and calls for his resignation following a scrapped plan to sell a US$4.2-billion private equity stake in World Cup commercial rights.
Major confederations, including UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), condemned the proposal and called for independent oversight.
However, in a recently released statement, the ABFA described Infantino as a visionary leader whose tenure has reshaped the global football landscape.
The association highlighted FIFA’s increased investment in grassroots football infrastructure and the expansion of World Cup participation as key developments benefiting emerging football nations.
“His transformative policies, from groundbreaking investment in grassroots infrastructure to the historic expansion of World Cup access, have elevated the aspirations of emerging football nations into attainable realities.
“By listening with genuine humility and acting with decisive conviction, he has forged a legacy of inclusivity that transcends the sport itself, affirming that every nation, regardless of size, deserves equal voice and fair opportunity on the world stage,” the statement read.
The ABFA also praised Infantino for what it described as his willingness to listen to smaller member associations and act on their concerns.
“President Infantino has stood as an unwavering champion of equity,” the association said, maintaining that every nation, regardless of size, should have an equal voice and fair opportunity on the international stage.
The association reaffirmed its confidence in Infantino’s leadership and expressed the view that FIFA’s role in using football to promote unity, hope and opportunity could be strengthened further under his stewardship.