Infantino reelected as FIFA president till 2027

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Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president throughout the 73rd Congress in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday.

Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of soccer’s governing physique a formality, even when he isn’t universally in style amongst member associations for a spread of causes, together with pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup each two years.

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The FIFA president opened his remarks with an anecdote describing how he got here to Kigali when he first campaigned in 2016 and nearly stop the race, likening his refusal to surrender to how Rwanda recovered after its genocide in 1994.

“It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great responsibility,” Infantino mentioned. “I promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world.

“To those who love me, and I do know there are various, and those that hate me … I like you all.”

Infantino confirmed FIFA’s income hit record levels in the last cycle from 2019-22, but promised to substantially raise this again on the back of expanded men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments and the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup.

“Revenues rose to a file $7.5 billion [in 2022] in a interval that was hit by COVID-19. When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at round $1bn, right now they’re at nearly $4bn,” Infantino said.

“We promise new file revenues for the following cycle of $11bn, and the brand new Club World Cup isn’t included in that determine, so it may enhance by a few billion [more].”

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Infantino said FIFA would continue to review the transfer system to “enhance transparency” and suggested the organisation might discuss a salary cap.

“We should enhance our laws and the FIFA statutes. We will proceed to evolve our good governance ideas and have a look at the switch system, and possibly have a dialogue to enhance transparency of switch charges and salaries.

“It might be necessary to introduce a cap, we have to think how we can do that. We will look at it with all stakeholders and see what we can do.”

Infantino was first elected in an Extraordinary Congress in 2016 following the resignation of his predecessor Sepp Blatter, and retained his place unopposed three years later.

But this counts as his second time period of workplace and he’ll subsequently be out there for a 3rd and remaining time period in 4 years’ time.