Sports Desk, Mar 16 (EFE).- Gianni Infantino was re-elected as Fifa president on Thursday for four more years after a vote at the 73rd Fifa Congress in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he ran unopposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his speech, he highlighted the organization\u2019s \u201cachievements\u201d of the past four years, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar \u2013 \u201cthe best World Cup ever\u201d, he said \u2013 where Fifa had had \u201ctaken on board its responsibility to deal with human rights matters and to deal with the legacy of this World Cup, the first in the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also lauded Fifa\u2019s Covid relief plan which provided billions of dollars to keeping grassroots football \u201calive\u201d during and after the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking to the next four years of his mandate, Infantino said \u201cwe want to unite, to include and we want to make football truly global.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To that end, Fifa confirmed this week that the 2026 World Cup in North America would feature 48 teams \u2013 meaning an additional 40 matches \u2013 as well as a new and expanded Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams instead of just four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“When I hear there is too much football, yes, maybe in some places, but not everywhere,” Infantino said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In fact, in most parts of the world there is not enough football played. We need way more and not less competitions, we want football to develop worldwide,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plans have been roundly criticized, with Spain\u2019s LaLiga accusing Fifa of continuing \u201cits malpractice of making unilateral decisions on the world football calendar, showing complete disregard for the importance of national championships, and the football community in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeagues were not consulted about any of the changes,\u201d the statement continued, \u201cespecially about the new annual club competition, of which we were completely unaware, and which seriously affects our competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese decisions do not take into account the competitive, sporting and economic impact on national leagues, clubs and players, by further cramming an already overloaded schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born in Brig, Switzerland, the former Uefa general secretary has been at the helm of Fifa since 2015, after a corruption scandal took down Infantino\u2019s predecessor Sepp Blatter, who had been in charge for 18 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When his current mandate ends, Infantino will be eligible for a third and final four-year term, meaning he is likely to remain president until 2031. EFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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