FIFA President - The African Mirror

Feb

2024

FIFA chief Infantino repeats call for action against racism

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated his call for action to tackle the increase in racist incidents in football when he spoke at the UEFA Congress. AC Milan's France goalkeeper Mike Maignan left the pitch during a game at Udinese last month after racist chants from the home fans, while Coventry City's Kasey Palmer said he was the target of racist abuse by some Sheffield Wednesday supporters. The incidents were described at the time as "totally abhorrent" by Infantino, who added that clubs should face automatic defeat if their fans displayed racist behaviour. "We live in a divided world, we say that football…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Brazil submits letter of intent to host 2027 Women’s World Cup

FOOTBALL

BRAZIL has submitted a letter of intent to soccer's governing body FIFA to host the 2027 Women's World Cup, the South American country's Minister of Sports Andre Fufuca said. Fufuca presented the documents to FIFA President Gianni Infantino while he was in Rio de Janeiro for the Copa Libertadores final, which was won by Brazilian club Fluminense for the first time. "I delivered it to FIFA and Brazilian Football Confederation on behalf of President Lula," Fufuca said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The Government Declaration formalising Brazil's intention to host the 2027 Women's Football World Cup and the government…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Swiss prosecutors end proceedings against FIFA boss Infantino

FOOTBALL

CRIMINAL proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his dealings with former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber have been closed, Swiss prosecutors said, a decision Infantino hailed as a vindication of "the new FIFA". Infantino was elected in 2016 to clean up the world soccer body FIFA after it became embroiled in corruption scandals. However, Swiss authorities launched proceedings against Infantino himself in 2020 on suspicions of secrecy violations, abuse of office and aiding and abetting related to meetings he held with Lauber. In ending the proceedings, prosecutors said their investigations had "invalidated" such suspicions. Swiss-Italian Infantino, who had repeatedly…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

FIFA president Infantino offers condolences in letter to Israel and Palestine FAs

FOOTBALL

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the Israel and Palestine Football Associations, offering his condolences over the "horrendous violence" in the past week in a conflict that has taken over 2,700 lives so far. Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their attack on Saturday. In response, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza so far, authorities there said. "I would like to express... our deepest condolences to the Israel Football Association and the Palestine Football Association, in light of the horrendous violence that has been occurring over the past days," Infantino wrote. "It is as…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Infantino re-elected FIFA president, telling critics ‘I love you all’

SPORT

PHILBERT GIRINEMA GIANNI Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world. Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of football's governing body a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations amid controversies including the treatment of migrant workers in the run-up to last year's World Cup in Qatar and a failed plan to play the tournament every two years. "It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

New king of African football

NEWS

BILLIONAIRE mining magnate Patrice Motsepe has become the first South African to be crowned head of African football. The 59-year-old Motsepe, ranked by Forbes among the richest men on the continent, was today elected unopposed as the new Confederation of African Football (CAF) president after a deal brokered by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The last impediment to his coronation, which took place at the CAF Congress in Rabat today, was removed on Monday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on CAF President Ahmad Ahmad for corruption, although reducing his suspension from five to two years. Ahmad…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Soccer-FIFA President Infantino test positive for COVID-19

SPORT

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global soccer's governing body has announced. Infantino, who is 50 years old, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation and will quarantine for at least 10 days, FIFA added in a statement. "All people who came into contact with the FIFA President during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps," the statement said. "FIFA sincerely wishes President Infantino a speedy recovery." - Thomson Reuters Foundation.