Infantino defends record as criticism grows before 2027 FIFA vote

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is ready to address questions about his leadership and has a clear conscience as criticism builds before the 2027 FIFA Presidential Election. He made the comments during a visit to the Dominican Republic, where he acknowledged the controversy surrounding his presidency.

The scrutiny follows FIFA’s decision to abandon the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have brought outside investment into part of the organisation’s commercial activities. Officials from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf had questioned the project’s governance, consultation process and transparency.

Questions have also followed the departure of several senior FIFA executives. Kevin Lamour, the organisation’s chief operating officer, left earlier this month after challenging the commercial proposal. FIFA has not publicly linked the departures to a wider dispute over Infantino’s leadership, but they have added to concerns about divisions within the organisation.

Infantino used his appearance in the Caribbean to defend the record of his presidency. He pointed to FIFA’s development work in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, saying the organisation had undergone major change during his ten years in charge and had expanded its impact across regions.

FIFA Forward funding supports infrastructure, competitions and programmes run by member associations. Infantino said the organisation’s task was to broaden football’s reach and direct revenue from sponsors, broadcasters and other sources back into the game, so that more girls and boys could participate.

That development spending also has significance ahead of the 2027 election. Every FIFA member association holds one vote at the FIFA Congress, regardless of its size or influence in football. Infantino continues to stress the benefits of funding for smaller and developing associations, while criticism from influential administrators has kept governance, commercial decisions and senior departures at the centre of the debate.