As widely expected, US President Donald Trump has now publicly come out to support under-fire FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying it will be “a terrible mistake” were he to be replaced.
On Monday, three continental confederations – the European (UEFA), the North and Central American (CONCACAF) and the Asian (AFC) – issued a joint letter in which they declared that there is zero confidence left in Gianni Infantino.
The objective: To get the FIFA President to resign with “dignity” instead of being ousted.
But a change in the FIFA post is not something that is to the liking of President Trump.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for whatever reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” he wrote on his own social media platform, Truth Social.
“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again.”
The relationship between Trump and Infantino has been a subject of debate for some time.
Last year, the US President received FIFA’s newly established peace prize, and during the World Cup, Trump stated that he personally called Infantino and asked him to “review” the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun.
