Victor Montagliani, president of football confederation Concacaf, has asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to refrain from attending youth tournaments in the Dominican Republic. In a letter, Montagliani stressed that Infantino’s presence could "unfortunately undermine the technical nature" of the competition, citing the broader economic crisis surrounding the world football governing body.
Montagliani specifically warned that the media would likely focus on the political context of the visit, which would significantly distract from the technical aspects of the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) competition. Although Infantino was invited as a guest of the Dominican Republic, the invitation was likely issued before his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal left his position under threat. The FFE proposal, which has now been rejected, envisaged selling shares of the World Cup to private investors and sparked heavy criticism within the football community.
Despite the pressure, Infantino was well received upon arrival in the Caribbean nation. The Dominican Republic expressed deep satisfaction with the visit, highlighting that his presence puts their football work on the international radar. Kelvin Cruz, the Dominican Republic’s minister of sport and recreation, emphasised that such visits open up significant prospects for the growth and development of local football. The tournament, part of a wider development project, is funded by the world football governing body.
Meanwhile, Infantino faces increased pressure at the top of FIFA. Several football associations have withdrawn support for the Swiss-Italian administrator, with Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian confederation issuing a joint statement expressing concern. Infantino has been accused of breaching trust, and the situation has been further complicated by the recent dismissal of senior executive Kevin Lamour, whose departure also drew criticism within the football community.
Despite all the challenges, Infantino retains the support of key regional associations. The South American confederation (Conmebol) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) continue to support his fourth term at the head of FIFA, giving him a degree of stability at a time when his position appears most vulnerable.
