International News: Infantino defies FIFA, attends Caribbean Youth football event

By Zoila Palma:  FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended an Under-14 football tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, despite a request from FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani to stay away amid growing tensions over Infantino’s controversial financial proposal.

Infantino posted photos from the Caribbean Football Union youth event, where he met with political and football officials, AP reports.

Montagliani had reportedly urged Infantino to reconsider attending, warning that the ongoing governance controversy surrounding FIFA could overshadow the youth competition.

The FIFA vice president said media attention would likely focus on Infantino’s failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal rather than the tournament and asked him to avoid becoming a distraction.

The dispute comes after Infantino faced criticism over a reported plan to transfer FIFA’s multibillion-dollar commercial activities to a subsidiary partly owned by private investors.

The proposal, which reportedly involved investors led by Joshua Kushner, was withdrawn on August 1 following backlash from football officials and fans.

Several FIFA vice presidents have since called for changes to Infantino’s leadership.

The post International News: Infantino defies FIFA, attends Caribbean Youth football event appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.