FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino is a second term in office. For the election in June, there are no counter-candidates. The Swiss is pushing ahead with its billion-dollar “Project Trophy” – but in the home threatening trouble.
From now on, only a matter of form, it is: If on 5. June will be elected in Paris, the next President of the world football Association FIFA, is the incumbent, Gianni Infantino, the only candidate. And, although before the end of the application period, a second man lifted the fingers and the wish was expressed, the FIFA Boss to replace. However, Ramon Vega, as Infantino from Switzerland, was missing until Tuesday, the necessary support of at least five national associations. The requirements for candidature of the former Swiss national player were not given.
Anyway, the chances of a fall of the controversial incumbent, who took over in February 2016 as the successor to the suspended Joseph Blatter for the leadership of FIFA, would have been low. While there are many, where the methods Infantinos not like it, but greater still is the flock of his followers in spite of all the criticism. In the past week, the continental Confederation of North and Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF, after a Council had communicated to the session to support Infantino, in any case. Other organizations, especially outside of the more Infantino-critical European football Union (UEFA), would be followed. Finally, Infantino has taken in recent years to the non-European associations and gifts made, among other things, the extension of the world Cup finals from 32 to 48 teams, which will be paid no later than 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, maybe even before that in Qatar.
Critical UEFA, dubious investors
One of the worst critics Infantinos Aleksander Ceferin, President of the European football Union UEFA. The Slovenian – as well as DFB President Reinhard Grindel – complained for months that Infantino sufficient information is not available to a dubious billion offer for the rights to a reformed club world Cup and a global Nations League.
Not a Fans of Gianni Infantino and its plans: Reinhard Grindel (l.) and Aleksander Ceferin (R)
A unspecified group of investors – this is a Plan to generate new income presented Infantino the FIFA Council last March – was willing to pay for the rights to a Nations-League and 24 Teams expanded club world Cup, the unimaginable sum of US $ 25 billion. However, it could be due to a confidentiality clause, no information on who the money were donors, Infantino. The Plan – “Project Trophy” – has been thrown out of the FIFA boards.
In addition, two FIFA lawyers examined the agreement, the Infantino with the investors close wanted and came to a damning judgment, in which it discouraged strongly from the contract. Both were shortly thereafter discharged from the service of the FIFA. Instead, a “task force is now examining” the “relevance and feasibility of the two competitions”. Results will soon be presented.
Infantino closeout FIFA planned?
As the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (SZ) was held in November, was planned a far more extensive Rights to be exercised as only two new competitions. According to a secret Declaration of intent that the SZ was available, it went to the clearance of almost all rights: Digital and archive-rights, films and Videos, satellite and network broadcasts, Merchandising and game rights, every production in High-Definition and 3-D Format, computer games, everything, “Virtual and every other Format that is still being developed worldwide”. Also the rights of future world Championships were included. FIFA denied that the document and the plans were up to date.
In the case of the buyers, the SZ and WDR reported – should it be the investment companies, “of the SB Investment Advisers Limited (SBIA)” and the “Centricus Partners LP”, headquartered in London. Both of the Consultants is to maintain, according to the WDR and SZ has close Links to the Japanese Softbank group, as well as to investors in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. If Infantino brings his heart to the project with a year’s delay, soon, but must show.
Justice determined, Blatter calls for action to be
However, the table threatening trouble the 48-Year-old in the home jurisdiction: In the Canton of Valais, an internal investigation against the Valais Prosecutor Rinaldo Arnold is running. Arnold, a friend of Infantino, should be adopted by the FIFA Boss, exclusive invitations, among other things, to the world Cup in Russia in 2018 and the FIFA Congress in 2016 in Mexico. In return, Arnold for the FIFA chief had arranged a Meeting with the Swiss Federal Prosecutor Michael Lauber. It should be an ongoing investigation by the FIFA corruption scandal.
Small services among friends? Rinaldo Arnold (l.) and President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino (R)
Should corroborate this suspicion, it could be tight for Infantino. As allegations of corruption against Infantinos predecessor leaves were collected, was going on to his FIFA Post immediately. The only reason why Infantino is now in the office. Ex-FIFA Boss Blatter has already claimed consequences. The ethics Committee of the world football Association had to “initiate an investigation against Infantino,” said the 82-year-old Blatter, the French news Agency AFP on Wednesday. Blatter called for by Infantino in addition, answers to many open questions. “Where is the transparency that has preached Infantino during his election?”, the Swiss said: “He should even ask the ethics Commission to prove that it works transparently.”
Infantino would be suspended in the Wake of the Arnold investigation, in fact, had the crisis-ridden FIFA is once more a serious Problem: she would be then suddenly only one of the presidential candidates, but would first no more.
asz/sw (dpa, sid www.sueddeutsche.de)