Donald Trump is prepared to do “everything possible” to help Gianni Infantino remain FIFA president as the embattled football chief battles to survive the biggest crisis of his tenure.
Infantino has come under mounting pressure after his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors collapsed amid fierce opposition from football’s governing bodies.
The abandoned plan has triggered growing calls for change at the top of FIFA, with several influential organisations withdrawing their support for the 56-year-old and discussions continuing over his future.
Despite the turmoil, a senior US administration official has claimed Trump remains firmly behind Infantino after the pair forged a close relationship during the United States’ hosting of the World Cup.
According to The Telegraph, the source believes the US president is unlikely to abandon the FIFA chief and would be willing to support him as pressure continues to mount.
“Gianni helped us a lot to deliver the best World Cup ever. The president likes him a lot. I am sure the president will do everything possible to help him,” the official said.
“I don’t think the president will change his mind on him, because he is a loyal person.
“Gianni really delivered the World Cup for the United States. We value that.”
Donald Trump is prepared to do “everything possible” to help Gianni Infantino remain FIFA president as the embattled football chief battles to survive the biggest crisis of his tenure
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Reports earlier this week suggested Infantino was expected to seek meetings with senior members of Trump’s administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort to reinforce his position.
However, both FIFA and the US State Department denied those claims, insisting no such talks had been arranged.
The latest developments come only weeks after the World Cup itself became engulfed in controversy when Trump revealed he had personally asked Infantino to overturn Folarin Balogun’s suspension before the United States’ last-16 clash with Belgium.
Before the latest crisis erupted, reports had even suggested Trump viewed Infantino as a potential future candidate for the role of United Nations secretary-general.
Gianni Infantino has a close relationship with Donald Trump
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The pair have developed an increasingly close relationship since first meeting in 2018, when Infantino famously presented Trump with red and yellow cards, joking they could prove useful in his dealings with the media.
That relationship strengthened further during the World Cup draw last December, when Infantino presented the US president with FIFA’s Peace Prize, along with a personalised golden trophy and commemorative medal.
The New York Post has since claimed Infantino unsuccessfully attempted to contact Trump after his World Cup investment proposal collapsed.
Speaking last week, Trump said he had not discussed the controversy with the FIFA president.
A FIFA spokesperson strongly rejected suggestions that Infantino had contacted the White House.
“The FIFA President has not made any call to the US President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction,” they said.
Gianni Infantino is facing a huge fight to remain as FIFA president | REUTERS
Paolo Zampolli, the US special envoy for global partnerships, also defended Infantino’s leadership, insisting the FIFA president had acted responsibly by withdrawing the proposal.
“Gianni Infantino’s record is not one of protecting a closed club for football’s richest institutions, but of opening the game to more nations, more communities and more children,” he said.
“He listened to the concerns and withdrew the proposal, as a leader should.
“The real debate now is how football’s wealth and opportunity can reach all 211 nations, not remain concentrated among the privileged few.”
