A man loyal to the bonze of physics. This was far from the image Gianni Infantino, the emcee can decline a joke even in five languages, at least during the raffles of the Champions League.
The presidential campaign of FIFA, which he probably never would have participated if Michel Platini had not been suspended, has propelled into another dimension. Opposite to Salman Sheikh, his main rival native of Bahrain, Jerome Champagne, the Prince Ali of Jordan and Tokyo Sexwale, Infantino can succeed Joseph Blatter, head for two decades a global organization riddled with corruption and scandal.
Who is he?
his birthplace is perhaps its main flaw. Gianni Infantino, 45, is in fact a native of Brig, a municipality in the canton of Valais … located ten kilometers from Visp, the birthplace of Sepp Blatter. Man it’s supposed to purge the legacy. Son of Italian immigrants and supporter of Inter Milan, Infantino is married to a Lebanese woman who gave her four daughters and taught some basics of Arabic.
A lawyer by training, he began his career at International Centre for sports studies, an organization funded by Fifa. Entered in 2000 in the legal department of UEFA, he became the general secretary nine years later. A position from which he reigns over an administration of 400 persons. The duo he formed with Michel Platini was, until the suspension of the French, perfectly prepared. Platini gave the political impetus and he took care of the rest.
How does he campaigned?
Supported by UEFA politically and financially, Infantino has received an official budget of € 500,000. A sum which enabled him to visit 70 countries in two and a half months with a staff of three. His most distant journey? Papua New Guinea, a dwarf planet football perhaps (203 th 209 on the Fifa rankings), but the president of Federation today have one vote. Or as much as the French or Brazilian president, for example. “Before arriving in Zurich, Gianni traveled the equivalent of five times around the world to meet face to face about 180 voting”, lists one of his advisers. This electoral marathon continued until last night in hotels in the city where 209 voters are grouped according to their continent of origin. A final tour far from useless. “In this very close election confederation of employers’ voting instructions can be done and undone until the last day,” said a frequent scenes of FIFA.
What is known -on its program?
Actually, quite a few things. He was content to take over some of the proposals of the committee for reform of FIFA, such as limiting the number of mandates of the president or the creation of new governance. Infantino also intends to address the construction of financial transparency. Main objective: seriously monitoring the use of grants paid by FIFA to national associations within the framework of football development programs. Under Blatter era, this aid has sometimes been misappropriation of funds to the benefit of local barons of football. Another argument, very electioneering, Infantino wants to promote a World Cup to 40 teams instead of 32 currently.
However, it has never ruled on the sensitive issue of the Global 2022. What does it happen if suspicions of corruption surrounding Qatar’s victory is confirmed by the Swiss and US justices? So far it has always kicked into touch.
What are his chances of being elected?
Coming from the administration of UEFA, Infantino can count, except surprise, the support of the 53 presidents of European federation. His electoral base extends to South America (10 voters) and Central and North America (35 voters). During a presentation at the UEFA headquarters in January, he has confided that he had the support, unofficial, United States. In total, the Swiss would have estimated his campaign team of about 90 voices tank. Besides those of Africa, an electoral hunting ground promised largely to Sheikh Salman, President of the Asian Confederation and native of Bahrain. As 105 votes are sufficient to win a majority and win, Infantino has targeted this part of the world, rich with 54 votes during the last phase of his campaign. In this context, he even sought the help of Christmas Graët, boss of a French Federation listened and influential football, particularly in North Africa. “I think I’ll have success in Africa, he advanced earlier in the week after a trip to South Africa. I have visited many countries and met with influential people. I think more than half of the votes because I have something concrete to offer the continent. “If his seduction really worked, it would be elected.
The president is elected by the congress of FIFA, for a period of 4 years. The election is by secret ballot. The electoral body is composed of 209 member federations, or even 207 if Indonesia and Kuwait are deprived of voting today as expected. The executive committee of FIFA has recommended Wednesday to Congress to postpone the May review of their suspension. Each federation has one vote. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive two-thirds of the votes of the members present and voting. For the second round and any other requisite ballot, a simple majority, that is to say over 50% of the votes cast is sufficient.
Fifa; scandal in the election
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