Infantino has mountainous task of reforming and uniting world football
New FIFA president Gianni Infantino has vowed to lead the scandal-tainted world governing body of football into a new era as he faces immediate pressure to ensure genuine reform. The 45-year-old UEFA general secretary scored a convincing victory in the battle to succeed the disgraced Sepp Blatter, whose 18-year reign ended with FIFA mired in unprecedented crisis. Infantino, a Swiss-Italian, defeated Asian rival and strong favourite Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in the second round of the vote of 207 members. Apparently shell-shocked after beating frontrunner Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in the second round of voting, polling 115 votes, the 45-year-old told a press conference soon after he was elected to replace the disgraced Sepp Blatter that he felt “a lot of emotions” and would probably need some time “to chill out and see what has happened”.
In reality, there will be little time for that. Infantino faces an enormous task of reforming and uniting world football, with a pile of crises from the scandal-ridden Blatter era needing immediate action. Although the new FIFA chief has promised to “work tirelessly” to bring an end to the dark days at FIFA, he will encounter multiple challenges as powerful players in the sport including key corporate partners still need to be convinced that FIFA can mend its ways. Infantino will also have to prioritise the interests of developing football nations in Asia and Africa, two continents that publicly backed Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman on hopes that a non-European would lead FIFA after Swiss national Blatter's 18-year presidency. He must dispel the notion he was elected to represent only the interests of his own powerful continent.
Meanwhile, India, a staunch supporter of Sheikh Salman, has said it hoped to receive "due importance" under FIFA's new boss. Even Sheikh Salman was quick to extend his support to Infantino and told him that Asia will do everything to help the global body "to reinstate football’s credibility". Infantino on his part has made some encouraging statements. "I want to see kids playing football in the schools in Oceania. I want to see Asia, China, India developing their football. I want to see football growing all over the world," he said in one of his first interviews after taking over as the president.
Above all, Infantino will have to deliver on his final pitch that tilted the vote of the member nations in his favour; many of them going against the advice of their confederations. As he switched between a myriad of languages, what struck a chord with the majority was his core message -- that he wanted millions more of FIFA’s $5.5 billion revenue to be redistributed back to the countries. “If FIFA generates $5bn revenue is it normal for $1.3bn cannot be redistributed?” Infantino asked. “What does FIFA do with $5bn? Are you telling me that is a problem.” However, FIFA’s lack of credibility has made it difficult to sign new sponsorship deals and it is reportedly facing a $108 million deficit for 2015. It is estimated that there was a shortfall of $530 million between the budgeted revenue and actual contracts signed so far for the 2015-18 cycle. Only if FIFA regains the trust and confidence of sponsors, the revenue streams will start flowing again and help Infantino come good on the generous promises of development funds for FIFA's 209 member associations he made during the electoral campaign.
