Amid a falling out with other football associations worldwide, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said it continues to support embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“We stand behind President Gianni Infantino’s leadership, and trust that continued dialogue among all confederations and Member Associations will keep the global game moving forward together,” the PFF said in a statement late Wednesday.
Infantino was under fire for attempting to share the World Cup with private investors, a plan he has since shelved, but several football federations worldwide chose not to back his election for a fourth term.
“We respect the views of UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC, and fellow Member Associations that proposals of significant structural and financial impact—such as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—must be discussed openly and democratically. Broad consultation across all confederations and Member Associations protects transparency and helps everyone reach a shared, well-informed decision,” the PFF said.
“Although FIFA has withdrawn the FFE proposal, PFF continues to support the goal behind it, championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino: expanding commercial and financial assistance to all 211 Member Associations, especially smaller markets like the Philippines,” it added.
The PFF said the commitment for a “more inclusive game” was evident during the recently-concluded World Cup, which has grown to 48 teams under Infantino’s watch and is supposed to grow by the next edition.
“Emerging nations like Cabo Verde, Curaçao, and Uzbekistan showed what they can do on the biggest stage—a reminder that when developing nations get real investment, the game becomes more competitive for everyone,” the PFF stated.
“PFF values its strong relationship with FIFA and its fellow Member Associations, and looks forward to working with the wider football community to turn this shared goal of stronger support for developing nations into reality,” it added.
