Gianni Infantino presents first 90-day plan if elected FIFA president
LONDON (AP) — Gianni Infantino will not appoint a fellow European to run the FIFA administration if he is elected president, indicating he wants an African to fill the role of secretary-general.
The Swiss-Italian candidate said he would quickly seek to replace the fired Jerome Valcke if he wins the Feb. 26 FIFA election.
"What we want to do is open the doors of FIFA administration. I am convinced the general secretary of FIFA should not be European," Infantino told reporters in London on Monday. "Why not an African?" FIFA has had 10 secretary-generals since 1904, all Europeans.
One obvious contender would be Hicham El Amrani, the general secretary of the African confederation.
In the vote of FIFA's 209 federations, Infantino is competing against Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain, ex-FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale.
Infantino has been UEFA general secretary since 2009 and he chose Monday's campaign event to disclose that he has endured death threats over the European governing body's pursuit of match-fixing allegations.
"I have received life threats against me and my family because UEFA was acting against match-fixing," he said. "I have to have police escort for my children because of the actions of UEFA against match-fixing."
In the vote of FIFA's 209 federations, Infantino is competing against Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain, ex-FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale.
Infantino set out his plans for his first 90 days in charge of FIFA at a news conference at Wembley Stadium in London. He was supported at the event by stars of football, including former players Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo and ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
"I have known him for a long time. I know that he is very capable, very experienced, with complete knowledge of everything around football and his organization," Mourinho told The Associated Press.
"I think FIFA needs credibility and I think he is the one. I support him with a real feeling that I'm supporting somebody that can do very well."
Mourinho was speaking to the media for the first time since being fired by Chelsea in December, but Wembley security staff blocked attempts to ask a follow-up question about his managerial future.
