South America’s football associations announced Thursday they will vote for the Union of European Football Association’s Gianni Infantino in the upcoming election for the FIFA presidency, due to take place on the Feb. 26, 2016, the first since a major bribery scandal took down the last president.
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South American Football Confederation President Juan Angel Napout said the group would vote "as a bloc" for Infantino at the election.
"We have spoken with Gianni to set out what is needed," Napout said late Thursday after a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Delighted to have the support of @CONMEBOL in my campaign for the FIFA presidency. Together we can take FIFA forward https://t.co/xIZ4PQ4Q3z
— Gianni Infantino (@Gianni_2016)
November 27, 2015
Infantino is currently secretary-general of UEFA and is looking to replace the disgraced Sepp Blatter, who is under investigation for criminal mismanagement and criminal misappropriation of funds.
Infantino has said he will stand aside if his boss, UEFA President Michel Platini, is allowed to stand.
Although Platini, like Blatter, is currently suspended by FIFA while an investigation into alleged corruption at the world body is conducted by Swiss prosecutors. Lawyers for Platini say he faces a life ban from football.
Infantino is one of six candidates admitted and declared for the race. He will have to fend off stiff competition from Prince Ali Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Jérôme Champagne and Tokyo Sexwale.
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It was announced yesterday that Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family, will also run for presidency after the Asian Football Confederation unanimously backed him.
“The members of the AFC executive committee passed a resolution urging all member associations to unite behind and support the AFC president Sheikh Salman in his efforts to be elected as the first FIFA president from Asia,” the AFC said.