Qatar & 2030 World Cup co-hosts Morocco amongst six Arab nations backing Infantino

[p]Infantino, who is seeking reelection ‌next year, has faced open revolt after three ‌confederations - UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF - called for him to quit ‌over his aborted bid to bring private investment into ‌FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.[/p][p]The Swiss administrator had proposed carving off the commercial rights to the World Cup and ‌selling 20% to private investors to raise ⁠about $4.2 billion.[/p][p][b]"Recognising the important ‌role of Arab football in bringing people together and strengthening cooperation ​among football associations across the Arab world, we ... 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,"[/b] the heads ​of the six federations said in a joint statement.[/p][embed guid="897efd41-5649-4093-96d1-7b303b9d0526" url="https://x.com/THE_SCORELINE_X/status/2087790447695470761" social-type="twitter" /][p]The statement was signed by the heads of the national federations of Qatar, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lebanon/jHmbM6XM/"]Lebanon[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sudan/OGhP26xH/"]Sudan[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mauritania/Q5QPxhPn/"]Mauritania[/a]. Four ‌of the six signatories are also FIFA Council members.[/p][p]"We deeply appreciate Mr Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together," they said.[/p][p][b]"We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him towards a stronger and more prosperous future for world football, expanding opportunities and further enhancing Arab football’s contribution ‌to the global game."[/b][/p][p]Infantino’s withdrawn proposal came with a $20 ​million grant for member associations for the next ‌funding cycle, an amount that could have been doubled if they signed the deal.[/p][p]Despite the opposition of the three confederations, which represent 136 of the 211 member associations who will vote in the FIFA ⁠presidential election in March, ⁠Infantino still has plenty ‌of allies in the game.[/p]