Infantino Re-elected FIFA President Unopposed, Promising Greater Revenues

In this file photo taken on October 22, 2022 Gianni Infantino, president of football's world governing body FIFA, attends a press conference following the FIFA Council meeting in Auckland. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on October 22, 2022 Gianni Infantino, president of football's world governing body FIFA, attends a press conference following the FIFA Council meeting in Auckland. (AFP)
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Infantino Re-elected FIFA President Unopposed, Promising Greater Revenues

In this file photo taken on October 22, 2022 Gianni Infantino, president of football's world governing body FIFA, attends a press conference following the FIFA Council meeting in Auckland. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on October 22, 2022 Gianni Infantino, president of football's world governing body FIFA, attends a press conference following the FIFA Council meeting in Auckland. (AFP)

Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali on Thursday, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world.

Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of football's governing body a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations for a range of reasons, including pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup every two years.

"It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great responsibility," Infantino said. "I promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world.

"To those that love me, and I know there are many, and those who hate me ... I love you all."

Infantino confirmed FIFA’s income hit record levels in the last cycle from 2019-22, but promised to substantially raise this again on the back of expanded men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments and the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup.

"Revenues rose to a record $7.5 billion (to 2022) in a period that was hit by COVID-19. When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at around $1 billion, today they are at almost $4 billion," Infantino said.

"We promise new record revenues for the next cycle of $11 billion, and the new Club World Cup is not included in that figure, so it could increase by a couple of billion (more)."

Infantino said FIFA would continue to revue the transfer system to "improve transparency" and suggested the organisation might discuss a salary cap.

"We must improve our regulations and the FIFA statues. We will continue to evolve our good governance principles and look at the transfer system, and maybe have a discussion to improve transparency of transfer fees and salaries.

"It might be necessary to introduce a cap, we have to think how we can do that. We will look at it with all stakeholders and see what we can do."

Infantino was first elected in an Extraordinary Congress in 2016 following the resignation of his predecessor Sepp Blatter, and retained his position unopposed three years later.

But this counts as his second term of office and he will therefore be available for a third and final term in four years' time.



Bundesliga Club Heidenheim Accuses Berlin Police of 'Extreme Violence' Against its Fans

10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
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Bundesliga Club Heidenheim Accuses Berlin Police of 'Extreme Violence' Against its Fans

10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa

Bundesliga club Heidenheim has accused Berlin police of extreme violence leaving some of its fans needing medical treatment following Saturday’s game at Union Berlin.
Five Heidenheim supporters were arrested and three of them charged, two for alleged vandalism and another for alleged insulting behavior, the police told news agency dpa on Sunday.
The club said the police detained several of its supporters before the match for the “unauthorized posting of stickers during the fan march, which had previously passed without incident.”
“The police also acted with extreme violence without any apparent reason or clear communication after the game, directly before we left the guests’ parking lot,” Heidenheim board member Petra Saretz said in a club statement, according to The Associated Press.
The incidents before the match led Heidenheim’s supporters to refrain from active support during the match, which the team won 3-0 to be sure of at least a relegation playoff.
“We feel obligated to call out the disproportionate violence used by Berlin police against Heidenheim fans yesterday and hope therefore that the authorities will provide clarification for this incomprehensible action,” said Heidenheim chairman Holger Sanwald, who thanked Union staff and others for their support during the incidents.