Friday, 22 January 2016

UEFA Endorse Infantino for FIFA Presidency


Uefa has unanimously endorsed Gianni Infantino's
candidacy for the Fifa presidency at next month's election.

Infantino entered the race to replace the suspended Sepp
Blatter in October and the Uefa general secretary has been
the favourite to secure his federation's nomination since
president Michel Platini was provisionally suspended from
all football activities alongside Blatter earlier that month.

Platini and Blatter are now serving eight-year bans in
relation to a payment made from Fifa to the former France
captain in February 2011.

Earlier this month, Platini confirmed his withdrawal from the
race, clearing the way for Uefa to back Infantino following
this week's executive committee meeting in Nyon.

A statement from Uefa reads: "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.

"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."

Infantino will contest the election against Prince Ali bin Al
Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-
Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale in Zurich on February 26.

The 45-year-old Swiss published an 11-point manifesto on
his website this week which pledges to increase the number
of teams at a World Cup finals to 40 and improve
transparency throughout Fifa.

"Gianni's key objective is to put football back to the centre
of what Fifa does," a statement on the website reads.

"Gianni's vision is based on three key pillars – reform;
democracy and participation and football development – and
informed by 20 years of experience and discussions with
football people across the world."

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