{"id":2121,"date":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2121"},"modified":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:30:07","slug":"fifa-pledges-to-defend-infantino-after-world-cup-rights-plan-collapses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2121","title":{"rendered":"FIFA pledges to defend Infantino after World Cup rights plan collapses"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (2 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div 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href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=FIFA%20pledges%20to%20defend%20Infantino%20after%20World%20Cup%20rights%20plan%20collapses&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fkuup0g\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fkuup0g\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/kuup0g\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/afp_6a73b5d82fc7-1785968088.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"FIFA president Gianni Infantino reacts during a 2026 World Cup Group football match at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026 [Photo: AFP]\"><\/div><figcaption>FIFA president Gianni Infantino reacts during a 2026 World Cup Group football match at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026 [AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\"><a class=\"avatar\" aria-hidden=\"true\" href=\"\/author\/mohammed-rafik-mhawesh\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/profile-mohammed-mhawish-1785237219.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span><a href=\"\/author\/mohammed-rafik-mhawesh\">Mohammed R Mhawish<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 5 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">5 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p>FIFA\u2019s leadership has reaffirmed its \u201cfull support\u201d for President Gianni Infantino, days after he was forced to abandon a plan to <a href=\"\/sports\/2026\/8\/5\/fifas-infantino-set-for-crunch-meeting-after-world-cup-selloff-crisis\">sell off World Cup commercial rights<\/a> that triggered a rare revolt within world football\u2019s governing body.<\/p>\n<p>The declaration followed a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, called after mounting pressure from UEFA and other confederations threatened to derail Infantino\u2019s expected re-election to a fourth term at FIFA\u2019s Congress in March.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/5\/malaysia-will-not-return-rohingya-refugees-to-myanmar-if-lives-are-at-risk\">Malaysia vows not to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar if lives at risk<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/video\/newsfeed\/2026\/8\/5\/5-8-clip-teargas-ik-protests-pk\">Clashes on anniversary of Imran Khan imprisonment<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/5\/us-man-arrested-at-trumps-golf-course-charged-with-multiple-felonies\">US man arrested at Trump\u2019s golf course charged with multiple felonies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>In a statement, FIFA said Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom and members of its management board reiterated their backing for Infantino as \u201cthe only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Infantino reciprocated support for Grafstrom and FIFA\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4832366\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4832366\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4832366\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty_6a73b6dc86-1785968348.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Football fans photograph a FIFA logo outside FIFA (F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Football Association) global headquarters on July 30, 2026 in Zurich, Switzerland [Photo: Robert Hradil\/Getty]\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4832366\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Football fans photograph a FIFA logo outside FIFA global headquarters on July 30, 2026, in Zurich, Switzerland [Robert Hradil\/Getty]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Officials acknowledged that \u201cmistakes were made\u201d over the now-withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have sold a 20 percent stake in a new commercial rights body to private investors to raise $4.2bn, and involved a company with family ties to US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA said an apology had been issued in a separate letter to its managing council and member associations, with a review and report to follow. The organisation added it would \u201cno longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity\u201d and would take \u201call necessary measures\u201d to defend its reputation.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting followed days of open dissent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, said it had lost confidence in Infantino\u2019s leadership and issued FIFA with a \u201cdocument preservation letter\u201d. Infantino\u2019s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest, and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger distanced himself from the plan.<\/p>\n<p>The Times of London reported that UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation were prepared to paralyse FIFA or launch rival competitions if Infantino did not step aside, though some federations, including Qatar and several African associations, have publicly backed him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (2 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo FIFA president Gianni Infantino reacts during a 2026 World Cup Group football match at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026 [AFP] By Mohammed R Mhawish Published On 5 Aug 20265 Aug 2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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