Infantino Launches Re-election Campaign with Slogan “Football Belongs to Everyone”

Al-Taj News – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has chosen the slogan “Football Belongs to Everyone, Everywhere in the World” for his campaign to win a new term, weeks after backing away from a plan to bring private-sector investors into the commercial rights of FIFA competitions, foremost among them the World Cup.

Infantino said, in remarks carried by journalist Rob Harris and reported by The Guardian, that he wants to give everyone the opportunity to dream and participate, and to narrow the gap between the major associations and the rest of the associations.

The slogan places the development of football in less fortunate countries at the forefront of his electoral platform, at a time when he is facing criticism over how he manages the federation’s most important commercial assets.

The controversial plan involved establishing a commercial entity in which a 20% stake would be offered to investors, with its activities to include rights related to competitions organized by FIFA. The proposal did not involve selling the World Cup or transferring ownership of the tournament, but its opponents warned that giving investors a share in the tournament’s revenues and commercial activities could affect the management of the sport and its global balance. FIFA abandoned the plan after opposition to it widened.