Gianni Infantino re-elected FIFA president
Gianni Infantino was re-elected as the president of the world football federation FIFA on Thursday. There was no candidate to compete with him
Infantino was re-elected as president at the 73rd FIFA Congress held in Kigali, Rwanda. Infantino was the lone candidate for the presidency.
He had promised to raise FIFA’s revenue to eleven billion dollars for the four-year period from 2019 to 2022. He said that football should be increased worldwide. However, FIFA’s total revenue during this period was $7.5 billion.
“It is a great pleasure and a great honor and a great responsibility,” Infantino said of his selection. I promise to continue to serve FIFA and football worldwide.”
He further said, “Those who love me, I know they are many. And those who hate me. I love you all too.
Not supported by German football
Two hundred and eleven national associations around the world took part in the presidential election, but some FIFA members, such as the German Football Association and the associations of Norway and Sweden, had already announced that they would not support Infantino.
The president of the German Football Association, Bernd Neudorf, said in this context on Wednesday, “The German Football Association will not support the re-election of Gianni Infantino in Kigali.” “We have been provided very little information by FIFA on a number of issues.”
It should be noted that Infantino strongly defended Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup football competitions held last year. Infantino was in favor of hosting Qatar, despite several questions over the rights of workers, women and gays in Qatar.
Before the start of the World Cup, the 52-year-old FIFA president made several controversial statements. He said, “Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel Gay.” Today I feel weak. Today I feel like a migrant worker. I feel this way, because I know what it feels like to face discrimination.
After that, FIFA also banned German and other European players from wearing the ‘One Love’ arm band. The band was pro-gay.
On this ban, Infantino said, “Football is played on the field. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but when you step on the field you have to respect football.