US official backs Infantino as FIFA governance row deepens

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, has publicly endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, characterising the backlash against the organisation’s recent commercial strategies as driven by jealousy and political motives.

Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, urged observers to consider Infantino’s “full body of work” after the FIFA president abandoned a proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in a new commercial entity to private investors. The decision was made in late July following widespread outrage from football confederations and national federations.

The proposed entity, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was designed to manage the commercial and operational facets of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments. Among the private investors slated to participate was Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner and a member of the investment group that recently acquired the Los Angeles Lakers.

The controversy has had tangible political consequences for Infantino, who is facing a re-election bid next year. Several major football bodies, including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have expressed displeasure or refused to back his re-election. The national federations of England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, and New Zealand have also voiced opposition to the president’s plans.

Giuliani drew parallels between the current situation and political targeting he observed during the Trump administration. “It’s politics. I’ve seen this before,” Giuliani told The Athletic, adding that sport has become increasingly monetised. He argued that Infantino has taken FIFA to a “whole new level” and insisted that critics are motivated by “politics and pettiness” rather than genuine concern for the sport’s governance.