The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has thrown its support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino as scrutiny intensifies over the governance and commercial direction of world football’s governing body.
Following a CAF Executive Committee meeting, the confederation said it had unanimously endorsed the “Joint Update” issued by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström regarding the FIFA Forward Enterprise.
CAF also reaffirmed its commitment to developing African football while adhering to global standards of governance, transparency and auditing.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said: “CAF welcomes and endorses the ‘Joint Update’ by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström. CAF will continue to focus on making African Football amongst the best in the world and is reaffirming its commitment to adhering to global governance, transparency and auditing best practices.”
Motsepe added that governance, due process and transparency were “crucial and non-negotiable” for African football.
The endorsement comes amid controversy surrounding Infantino’s plans to explore new commercial structures for FIFA, including the potential involvement of private equity investors in the organisation’s commercial and competition rights.
CAF’s statement did not directly criticise those plans and instead stressed its intention to continue working with FIFA, its member associations, other confederations and football stakeholders.
“We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its Member Associations, other Football Confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process, and transparency global best practices and to contribute to the development and growth of Football worldwide,” CAF said.
The development further highlights the political divisions emerging within global football governance. According to Inside World Football sources, as many as 20 African federations could vote against Infantino, potentially weakening his traditionally strong support base on the continent.
The report suggests that more African associations could oppose Infantino if concerns over potential repercussions diminish.
CAF’s backing also comes at a time when FIFA is facing wider governance challenges, with the AFC, Concacaf and UEFA reportedly refusing to engage with FIFA on certain governance and decision-making matters.
For Infantino, the CAF endorsement provides an important political boost as he seeks to maintain support across FIFA’s confederations. For African football, however, the stance could intensify an internal debate over whether the continent’s interests are being adequately represented within FIFA’s increasingly global commercial and competition strategy.