Caribbean football bloc backs Infantino for another FIFA term

The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) announced on November 6 that it would back Gianni Infantino in FIFA’s presidential election in March. The regional body has 31 member associations, 25 of which are eligible to vote in the election.The endorsement follows two recent visits by Infantino to the Caribbean and comes after the Asian Football Confederation publicly backed his bid last month. The CFU said it had agreed its position after consulting its members.“The CFU emphasizes that it determined its collective position through consultation with its member associations,” it said. “In this same spirit the CFU continues to call for increased transparency, good governance, and meaningful reform within the football family.”FIFA’s development programmes were a factor in the decision. During his latest visit, Infantino announced US$5.3 million in funding for seven artificial turf pitches at clubs across Aruba. FIFA also plans to increase financial contributions to member associations from US$10 million to US$25 million, a substantial increase for smaller federations.“For CFU member associations, many of which continue to operate with limited financial and human resources, these programs have contributed to efforts to strengthen football development and create opportunities across the region,” the union added.The endorsement comes despite opposition within Concacaf, the confederation to which the CFU belongs, to Infantino’s proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise. The plan would have allowed private investors to buy a minority stake in a company managing the commercial interests of the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. FIFA dropped the project in August after opposition from several confederations.The CFU said its backing came “with the expectation that FIFA will continue to strengthen accountability, uphold the highest standards of governance, and pursue the reforms necessary to ensure that every member association is fairly represented and served”.An Associated Press tally published last month indicated that Infantino was already approaching a majority among FIFA’s 211 member associations before the Caribbean endorsement. The CFU’s statement sets out a collective position, with voting rights held by the individual eligible associations.Kohzo Tashima, a FIFA Council member and honorary president of the Japan Football Association, announced on November 5 that he intends to stand. Former Switzerland international Ramon Vega has also declared his intention to run. Prospective candidates need the backing of five FIFA member associations and must pass an eligibility review.Nominations close on November 18, with the election scheduled for March 18, 2027, at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.