Former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o has publicly defended Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in FIFA’s events and commercial operations, signaling a potential shift in the governing body’s direction. In an interview with CNN, Eto’o stated that he hopes the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal will be revisited in the event of Infantino’s re-election for a fourth term in FIFA’s presidential ballot early next year. The move follows a wave of statements from numerous current and former footballers expressing a desire for fundamental change within the sport, alleging that FIFA’s leadership has strayed from its core values. These sentiments were amplified by Emmanuel Petit, former France and Manchester United defender, Mikael Silvestre, who also hosted FIFA’s in-house podcast during the 2026 World Cup, and Lucy Bronze, Chelsea defender and England international. Several prominent figures, including Victor Montagliani, the current UEFA president, and Concacaf and Asian football confederation officials, have publicly admonished Infantino, with several countries withdrawing support for his candidacy. However, the African and South American confederations, alongside Oceania, have demonstrated greater acceptance of Infantino’s leadership, while Mexico, for example, remains aligned with him, while several Asian countries have issued statements defending FIFA’s position. New Zealand has also withdrawn support, a stance seemingly consistent with the rest of the continent. Eto’o explained that he doesn’t believe Infantino has done anything wrong, asserting that the timing of the election is linked to the need for the FIFA leadership to consider a debate about whether the proposal should be revisited. He further emphasized that the voices raised were not the majority, and that a discussion on whether the proposal was beneficial or detrimental was needed. Eto’o praised Infantino for distributing wealth more evenly across the world, specifically suggesting the potential for developing football countries to invest and become more competitive. The proposal includes a $40 million investment over four years, which Infantino has indicated is intended to reset the balance of power in football. He also highlighted the expansion of the men’s and women’s World Cups, with the men’s tournament growing to 48 teams and the women’s edition rising to 48 by 2031. Eto’o echoed Infantino’s perspective on the World Cups, stating that he wants to see all of his colleagues re-read the project and that if a democratic vote is held, the project will be adopted because it’s good for the majority. Despite this sentiment, Mikael Silvestre voiced concerns, stating that the silence surrounding the game’s drift away from its core values was a sign of the current leadership’s failure. The post from Silvestre, which included a defense of FIFA, has garnered significant attention, with many users sharing similar concerns about the sport’s decline. A significant number of former players, including Petit, Bronze, and Montagliani, have voiced their disagreement with Infantino’s leadership. The controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to suspend a one-game ban for Folarin Balogun during the World Cup further fueled the debate. The FIFA Players’ Voice Panel, comprised of diverse backgrounds and nationalities, has also been involved in discussions regarding FIFA’s leadership. The debate has sparked considerable discussion among football stakeholders, with many questioning the balance of power and the potential for democratic control within the governing body. The situation continues to evolve as the FIFA presidential election draws nearer, with various factions vying to influence the outcome and shape the future of the sport.” , ] , ]}”}”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
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