CAF President Patrice Motsepe Argues Infantino's Fate Should Be Decided by Election

Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), stated that the future of FIFA President Gianni Infantino should be decided by the 211 member associations during the elections scheduled for March. Motsepe, who is a FIFA vice president, argued that those who oppose Infantino should follow the official FIFA process and allow the ballot box to determine whether the president retains confidence.

Infantino is currently facing significant pressure following an aborted plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Three major confederations, including UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, issued a joint letter stating that trust had been broken through deception and suggesting that Infantino should resign before the March elections. Additionally, the Football Association of Ireland recently withdrew its support, joining the English and Welsh FAs in doing so. Conversely, six Arab federations, including Qatar, Morocco, and Egypt, have offered their backing to Infantino.

Motsepe maintained that CAF continues to support Infantino, noting his loyalty to African football. While acknowledging that there are problematic issues to fix, Motsepe asserted that no rules were breached because the investment proposals would have required final approval from FIFA members. He emphasized that due process, governance, and legality are non negotiable and that all parties deserve a fair hearing.