Gianni Infantino believes he has the support of the "vast, vast majority" of footballing nations as he seeks re-election as head of the game's world governing body. The Swiss has faced widespread calls to resign as president of FIFA since hatching plans to sell off a stake in the World Cup earlier this year.
UEFA and CONCACAF, the bodies responsible for the game in the European and North and Central American and Caribbean regions, were at the forefront of those demands, but Infantino has withstood the pressure. He intends to stand for a fourth term as president at the next FIFA election in March, and appears confident of having the required backing.
Infantino told BBC Sport: "Well, you know I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world." He said that in an organisation like FIFA, there can be different views, but that if the organisation is serious about democracy, then it needs to respect the views of the vast majority.
He pointed to recent endorsements, noting that he had just returned from Tokyo, where the Asian Football Confederation had fully endorsed him, and from Cape Verde, where all Confederation of African Football countries had backed him. "I'm speaking to all associations everywhere in the world," he said.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing