Trump issues public defence of Infantino

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged FIFA not to remove Gianni Infantino, saying the governing body would make a “terrible mistake” by replacing its president.

Trump made the comments in a post on Truth Social on Monday night, his first public intervention since details of FIFA’s now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal emerged. The proposal would have opened stakes in FIFA’s commercial and event operations—including the World Cup and Club World Cup—to private investment.

“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote. “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.”

Infantino faces pressure over investment plan

Infantino has come under intense pressure since the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal was reported on July 28. UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation said in an open letter that trust had been “broken through deception” and indicated that they no longer wanted Infantino to continue in his role.

The proposal reportedly involved FIFA selling a 21 per cent stake in a new entity responsible for running its tournaments to Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital company founded by Joshua Kushner, for $4.2 billion (£3.1 billion). The plans have since been scrapped.

Close ties strengthened during World Cup

Trump and Infantino developed a close relationship during the World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. They appeared together at the final in New Jersey on July 19.

Infantino also awarded Trump FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize during the World Cup draw in Washington in December. FIFA said the award was intended to recognise people who had taken “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and united people across the world. Infantino had previously publicly supported Trump’s campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Peace Prize announcement, like the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, was made without prior approval from the FIFA Council.