African football administrator Patrice Motsepe has mounted a firm defence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, presenting him as a committed caretaker of the sport and a genuine supporter of the continent.
Infantino’s position has come under sharper scrutiny following FIFA’s choice to postpone a suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun after the recently completed World Cup. The debate has also intensified around the introduction of hydration breaks and FIFA’s plan to expand the men’s tournament to 64 teams.
Motsepe, speaking to reporters in Johannesburg, said he appreciates Infantino’s “deep love for football”, highlighting what he described as strong dedication to the sport worldwide and backing for Africa.
The CAF president added that the Swiss official “had remained loyal” to Africa, arguing he has been influential in pushing the game forward across the continent.
Motsepe further claimed Infantino has “played a pivotal role” in widening opportunities for African sides on the global stage. He pointed to an increase in Africa’s World Cup allocation by four direct places plus an extra playoff spot. Africa, he noted, was represented by a record 10 teams at this year’s tournament, which was co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Infantino, who took over as FIFA president from Sepp Blatter in 2016, is due to seek another term in 2027 as he aims for a fourth spell leading football’s global governing body.
Africa’s weight in FIFA politics is significant, with CAF’s 54 member associations forming the largest consolidated voting bloc among the sport’s six continental confederations.
In April, CONMEBOL became the first continental confederation to publicly endorse Infantino’s re-election campaign, and CAF soon joined the widening group of backers.
Still, opposition sentiment has been building among some European associations and aligned organisations, with reports suggesting a Europe-supported contender could be prepared to challenge Infantino.
This week, Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish top-flight league, declared that Infantino’s “time was over”. In comments to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas argued there is a “system that is fundamentally flawed” that has enabled Infantino to lead world football’s governing institution for the past decade.
Tebas also criticised FIFA’s priorities, saying “they are destroying the football industry – which generates tens of thousands of jobs – for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players.”
