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Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has publicly urged the football community to support embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that the Swiss official has “not done anything wrong”.
In an interview with CNN Sports, the head of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) dismissed mounting pressure and criticism against Infantino.
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Eto’o claimed the intense scrutiny and backlash over FIFA’s controversial private investment plans are politically motivated due to an upcoming election.
Eto’o credited Infantino with changing global football by expanding the World Cup and accelerating development for smaller nations and African federations.
“I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker told CNN.
“I think the timing of all of that is because there’s an election coming out.
“President Gianni Infantino has changed footbal.
“He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions.
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“He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that. We need to accept and recognise what he’s done, and we should support him for everything he’s done up to now.”
Infantino has faced intense pushback and calls to step down from bodies like UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation following a controversial and ultimately scrapped plan to sell private stakes in FIFA tournaments.
Eto’o’s comments align with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which previously reconfirmed its backing for Infantino, providing him with a vital voting bloc as he holds onto power ahead of the next election.
