UEFA ExCo unanimously backs Gianni Infantino for FIFA president
The UEFA Executive Committee has announced its full endorsement for Gianni Infantino for FIFA president.
UEFA carries 53 votes in the FIFA election (where there are 209 votes total), which is slated for February 26 in Zurich.
“Following meetings at the House of European Football in Nyon, the UEFA Executive Committee would like to affirm that we unanimously endorse Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for the FIFA presidency,” the committee said in a statement. “UEFA’s national associations also overwhelmingly expressed their support for Gianni and will officially announce their individual positions in due course, respecting their internal formal procedures. Gianni Infantino entered the presidential race for football’s world governing body on 26 October 2015, with the backing of the UEFA Executive Committee, and we are certain he is the right man to take FIFA Forward now.”
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Infantino said Thursday that UEFA has contributed $542,000 in financial backing to his campaign, which he entered in October after Michel Platini was banned by FIFA.
Infantino is up against Sheikh Salman from Bahrain, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein from Jordan, Tokyo Sexwale from South Africa and Jerome Champagne from France.
Issa Hayatou of Cameroon is the current acting president while incumbent Sepp Blatter remains suspended.
