Event
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended a Caribbean Football Union youth tournament in Punta Cana, defying a request from CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani to stay away. The appearance occurred amid a governance crisis following the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which aimed to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. Montagliani argued that Infantino's presence would distract from the technical nature of the competition. Infantino is seeking re-election for a fourth term in March 2026.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino defied a formal request from Vice President Victor Montagliani to skip a Caribbean Football Union event, highlighting internal tensions over the organisation’s governance crisis.
Victor Montagliani argues that media scrutiny of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal would overshadow the technical aspects of the CFU Under-14 Series.
The CONCACAF president has formally asked the FIFA chief to reconsider his attendance at the CFU U-14 Series, arguing that media scrutiny of his leadership would overshadow the technical aspects of the competition.
Background
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 youth tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, despite a formal request from FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani to abstain. Montagliani argued that Infantino's presence would distract from the technical nature of the event due to the ongoing governance crisis surrounding FIFA, specifically media scrutiny of the recently withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The dispute highlights tensions within FIFA's leadership as the organisation prepares for an election congress in March.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 youth tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, despite a formal request from FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani to abstain. Montagliani argued that Infantino's pre
Fact cards
Key entities: Gianni Infantino, Victor Montagliani, FIFA, CONCACAF, Caribbean Football Union.
Why did CONCACAF ask Infantino to skip the tournament? Montagliani argued that media focus on the FIFA governance crisis would undermine the technical nature of the youth competition. What is the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal? It was a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and
France 24 International | https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20260822-infantino-defies-fifa-vice-president-s-request-to-stay-away-from-caribbean-youth-tournament | published 2026-08-22T15:07:39.000Z | primary source | BBC Sport | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq6d6
2026-08-21: Victor Montagliani sends an emailed letter requesting Infantino to reconsider his attendance at the CFU Under-14 Series. 2026-08-22: Infantino attends the tournament in Punta Cana and posts photos on Instagram meeting Dominican Republic officials. 2026-11-18: Deadline
Timeline
Victor Montagliani sends an emailed letter requesting Infantino to reconsider his attendance at the CFU Under-14 Series.
Infantino attends the tournament in Punta Cana and posts photos on Instagram meeting Dominican Republic officials.
Deadline for would-be candidates to enter the race for the FIFA election congress in Rabat, Morocco.
FAQ
Montagliani argued that media focus on the FIFA governance crisis would undermine the technical nature of the youth competition.
It was a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, which has since been scrapped.
FIFA directly funds regional bodies like the CFU with up to $5 million from each four-year World Cup cycle.
Montagliani argued that media focus on the FIFA governance crisis would undermine the technical nature of the youth competition.
It was a proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, which has since been scrapped.
UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation have withdrawn support.
Conmebol (South America) and CAF (Africa) retain their support.
The crisis stems from Infantino’s aborted proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup, which has led to pressure for him to resign from UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF.
Infantino was welcomed by Dominican Republic Minister of Sports and Recreation Kelvin Cruz, Dominican Football Federation President Jose Deschamps, National Commissioner of Football Benny Metz, and Olympic Committee President Garibaldy Bautista Lorenzo.
Yes, Infantino is seeking a fourth term until 2031, although several national associations and key officials have withdrawn their support.