Six Arab federation chiefs back Infantino amid resignation calls

The presidents of Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt and Mauritania on Thursday declared their backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, issuing a joint statement of confidence as the Swiss administrator faces a coordinated push for his resignation from three major continental confederations. Four of the six Arab signatories currently serve on the FIFA Council, the organization's main decision-making body.

The declaration comes amid mounting pressure from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf — representing 136 of FIFA’s 211 member associations — which have demanded Infantino step down over an abandoned proposal to transfer commercial rights to a separate company. "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," the federation chiefs said, praising his efforts to expand opportunities across different regions.

Commercial rights controversy

The opposition centers on Infantino’s attempt to attract private investment by selling a 20 percent stake in a new entity holding commercial rights to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, for approximately $4.2 billion. The plan also promised $20 million in development funding for each member association during the next FIFA Forward cycle, with the possibility of doubling the amount upon approval.

UEFA, AFC and Concacaf accused the FIFA president of a breach of trust over the initiative, which was eventually withdrawn following widespread criticism from confederations, national associations and other football stakeholders. The three bodies have maintained their calls for Infantino to resign despite the reversal.

Reelection prospects

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is expected to seek reelection in March next year and retains significant support beyond the Arab world. The Confederation of African Football’s Executive Committee recently reaffirmed its backing for the incumbent president, providing a counterweight to the European, Asian and North American revolt.

"We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him towards a stronger and more prosperous future for world football," the six federation presidents added in their statement. The Swiss administrator has not publicly indicated he will step down ahead of the upcoming electoral congress.