Trump Warns FIFA Against Dumping Embattled President Gianni Infantino

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

President Donald Trump threw his weight behind embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday, warning soccer’s governing body it would be making a “terrible mistake” to oust him as senior figures push for his departure.

Infantino is facing mounting pressure following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell private investors a stake in the commercial operation of the men’s World Cup.

Trump, however, offered the FIFA chief an emphatic endorsement in an early-morning Truth Social post on Tuesday:

FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino. He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

The presidential intervention comes after Infantino reportedly turned to the Trump administration for help as pressure mounted on his leadership.

The FIFA chief was said to have sought private talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ostensibly to discuss soccer as a form of American “soft power,” though a source briefed on the outreach told the New York Post it was ultimately “about job protection.”

Infantino is facing a growing revolt inside international soccer. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf have held preliminary discussions about potentially organizing competitions themselves as the crisis surrounding FIFA’s leadership deepens.

The three confederations have accused Infantino of “deception,” while UEFA has previously raised the prospect of boycotting FIFA competitions.

The organizations are understood to have favored giving Infantino an opportunity to resign rather than seek re-election when his current term ends in March.

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