Patrice Motsepe, president of the African Football Confederation "CAF", defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino against the criticisms directed at the latter and calls for his resignation, directing a message to the Swiss man's critics.
A violent attack was launched against Infantino over the past period, after he announced his intention to sell part of FIFA's shares to external investors who would personally oversee the upcoming World Cup tournaments.
However, this decision faced strong opposition from many continental confederations, most notably the European Football Confederation "UEFA", the "CONCACAF" confederation, and the Asian Confederation as well.
These three confederations announced their opposition to Infantino's continuation, demanding his resignation. UEFA also stated that its 55 member associations would boycott the men's and women's World Cup tournaments.
Motsepe, in statements to "Sky News" network, which were reported by "Mundo Deportivo" newspaper, believes that the elections will determine Infantino's fate, whether he stays or leaves.
Motsepe said: "The elections will be held next year. This process must be allowed to continue and we must leave the decision to the 211 FIFA member associations. If there are candidates who wish to compete against Infantino, let them submit their nomination papers. This is the right thing to do."
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He added: "What I would like to focus on in the coming period is unity and cooperation. We must see how we continue to develop football and elevate it amid the challenges we face. These challenges must be addressed and resolved, and we must move forward."
He clarified: "If I act as president in a manner that does not reflect the necessary legal procedures, then I must be subject to questioning and several questions must be asked of me."
Motsepe also addressed Alexander Ceferin, president of UEFA, along with the presidents of the CONCACAF and Asian confederations, adding: "If anyone has a problem with anyone else, whether it is Infantino or anyone else, they must follow FIFA's procedures. If they want to remove him, elections must be held. It's that simple."
He continued: "Let the 211 member associations decide the fate of the FIFA president. The vote will express the extent of their confidence or lack thereof in Infantino. Everyone has the right to a fair trial and fair treatment. Everyone must be heard. Proper legal procedures and good governance are non-negotiable."
It is worth noting that the date for the FIFA presidential elections next year is specifically in March 2027.
