Infantino to ask for vote on new tournaments despite opposition

MANCHESTER: FIFA president Gianni Infantino will put his controversial plans for two new international tournaments to a vote at Friday’s meeting of the body’s ruling council, a spokesman for the governing body told Reuters on Wednesday.

However, with the World Leagues Forum, which represents 38 professional leagues, asking Infantino last week not to go for a vote and strong opposition within Europe, Friday’s FIFA council meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, could cause a major split. Infantino revealed his plans in May for a new Global Nations League and a revamped Club World Cup which he says are backed by a ‘solid and serious’ group of investors willing to spend $25 billion over a 12-year cycle starting in 2021.

The European Leagues, which includes the Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga, and UEFA are among several organisations unwilling to endorse the plans at this stage.

‘WORLD CUP IN QATAR TO BE BEST YET’

DOHA: Gianni Infantino hailed Qatar’s progress on infrastructure ahead of its 2022 World Cup and said the tournament is poised to be the best one yet, during a visit. Qatar has launched huge construction projects including seven new stadiums by 2020.

Infantino said via a statement from Qatar’s World Cup organising committee, after he toured the Al Wakrah stadium,“The stadium is very impressive. When you enter here you immediately feel how imposing it is. The Russian World Cup has been the best ever but the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar — I am sure — will be even better.”