Gianni Infantino hails ‘strong’ Fifa as focus shifts to Asia

Infantino claims changes introduced under his stewardship have enabled the governing body to provide ‘unprecedented’ assistance for members

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Fifa president Gianni Infantino was full of praise for his organisations efforts to support nations affected by the coronavirus. Photo: DPA

Published: 11:22am, 10 Dec 2020Updated: 11:21am, 10 Dec 2020

Gianni Infantino claimed the changes made since he replaced Sepp Blatter at the helm of football’s governing body have allowed Fifa to provide significant assistance to embattled member associations since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the Asian Football Confederation’s online congress, Infantino said the provision of US$1.5 billion for members via the Covid-19 Relief Plan was “unprecedented” and that such measures could not have been taken previously.

“For me, and all Fifa Council members, it was immediately clear we can help and we can assist because the financial situation of Fifa is extremely strong and solid,” said Infantino, who took over from Blatter in 2016.

“Fifa had its pandemic already five years ago and now we have our antibodies. We are strong, we are solid and we have been able to help and it was very clear that we could help and we should help.

“That’s what we have done with the Covid relief fund. Not for the top professional game, but also for the women’s game for the grassroots game to keep football alive all over the world because that’s our mission and that’s our task.”