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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been asked to reconsider attending a youth tournament in the Dominican Republic as controversy continues to surround his leadership of world football’s governing body.
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Concacaf president Victor Montagliani warned that Infantino’s presence could draw attention away from the Under-14 competition and towards the ongoing crisis within FIFA.
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Infantino remains backed by several major football authorities despite criticism from other governing bodies over his leadership and the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
August 22, (THEWILL) — FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been asked to stay away from a youth football tournament in the Dominican Republic, adding another twist to the growing controversy surrounding his leadership.
Infantino was expected to attend the Caribbean Football Union Under-14 Series this weekend after being invited as a guest of the Dominican Republic.
However, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has now urged him to reconsider the visit, arguing that the attention surrounding the FIFA president could overshadow the purpose of the tournament.
Montagliani, who is also one of FIFA’s vice-presidents, raised his concerns in a letter seen by the BBC.
The Canadian official referred to the wider governance problems currently affecting FIFA and suggested that Infantino’s attendance could result in the competition receiving less attention than the controversy surrounding the organisation.
The tournament is intended to provide young players with an opportunity to develop and gain international experience, but Montagliani believes that could be pushed into the background if Infantino attends.
Instead, journalists and football observers could focus heavily on the issues surrounding the FIFA president.
The request represents another uncomfortable moment for Infantino, who has faced increasing criticism from within international football in recent weeks.
Why is Infantino facing pressure?
Much of the recent controversy has centred on FIFA’s abandoned Forward Enterprise proposal.
The initiative attracted considerable criticism after plans emerged involving the potential sale of stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
Although the proposal was eventually scrapped, the fallout has continued, with several football associations questioning the direction of FIFA under Infantino.
The FIFA president has subsequently faced accusations that his actions damaged trust between the governing body and some of its most important stakeholders.
An open letter involving the leadership of UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation also accused Infantino of breaking trust “through deception”.
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The controversy has created a difficult situation for the Swiss-Italian administrator, particularly with questions surrounding his position and future leadership of FIFA continuing to attract attention.
The organisation’s decision to dismiss senior executive Kevin Lamour has also come under scrutiny after Lamour had criticised Infantino.
That decision became another source of criticism as concerns over FIFA’s internal governance continued to grow.
However, Infantino’s position is not without support.
While some football authorities have distanced themselves from the FIFA president, others continue to back him.
South American football governing body Conmebol remains supportive of Infantino, while the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also retained its support.
Several Concacaf nations have likewise backed Infantino for a fourth term as FIFA president.
That support has become an important counterweight to the criticism facing him.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
