Tough times ahead for new Fifa chief Infantino
One chapter that began with the resignation of Sep Blatter as Fédération Internationale de Football Association president, has ended with the election of Gianni Infantino in his place. But there are many more chapters that need to be closed, and they have to do with the deep malaise of corruption which confronts the world football body. Mr Infantino has a difficult road ahead, and the challenges he faces make those he encountered in the process of his election look like a pleasant walk in the garden. Besides, he has to take along factions within Fifa and football federations associated with it.
Those that he vanquished, such as Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, have a strong support base, and they will always be snapping at the victor's heels. After all, although the margin of victory has been comfortable, he got through only after a second round of voting (something that had not taken place since 1974). Mr Infantino also has to manoeuvre his way through the Blatter camp — it must not be forgotten that Mr Blatter had been Fifa president for a good 17 years and built formidable support for himself. His removal, on grave charges of financial irregularities the football association has been accused of, did not happen easily because of resistance from sections of the football administration across the world. In fact, certain countries were deeply divided over the decision to show him the door, and there was political play as well.
It is, of course, possible that the new incumbent, a former Swiss lawyer, will be able to heal the divide in the larger interest of the sport. His diplomatic skills are going to be fully tested in the days to come. The cases of corruption have to be tackled head-on, but since many of these are in the legal purview, Mr Infantino and his new team can only cooperate fully. What he needs to do more vigorously is to give a new shape to Fifa and take care of the many grievances which have accumulated over the years. One of them is the demand to provide more attention to Asian football, which has been treated like a step-child while European football got the cream. Sheikh Salman had pitched his campaign along those lines as well, and he remains determined to ensure that the Infantino-led team does a course correction from the past. The new president has agreed that Fifa needs to “get Europe to do much more”.
The other aspect Mr Infantino has to tackle is adequate funding — which in a way is related to correcting the lopsided pro-Europe policy. The new Fifa chief must ensure that Asian football associations are not starved of finances and amenities that are needed to propel their efforts to create more world-class football-playing nations. If Mr Infantino can manage these issues — and he has already shown some inclination to do so — he will be able to dilute Fifa's recent infamy and be remembered as the football czar who cleaned up the sport and delivered on creating a more inclusive football federation.
