Latvia's football federation won't rush support for Infantino after failed FIFA project
The Latvian Football Federation is holding back on backing Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA election after the collapse of his commercial rights plan. LFF's secretary general says the project was poorly presented and needed broader consultation first.
The failure of FIFA president Gianni Infantino's "FIFA Forward Enterprise" initiative has left the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) cautious about offering him early backing in the upcoming election. The plan involved selling part of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors, a move that drew criticism from supporters, UEFA and various national associations.
LFF secretary general Gaidels said the idea of bringing in additional funding was not in itself unacceptable, but the way the proposal had been presented was misguided. He stressed that all confederations should have been consulted before the project was taken further. The federation, he said, had only received a letter asking for its position, which he described as a major mistake and unacceptable. He also questioned how private investors might influence decision-making.
After the project was withdrawn, Infantino's position has appeared less secure, with his future as FIFA president now uncertain. The election is scheduled for March 2027. LFF, which previously supported Infantino, does not intend to make a hasty decision. Gaidels noted that Infantino had earlier enjoyed the backing of more than 200 national associations, but recent events could change the picture. Candidates are expected to be known by November, and Latvia will evaluate them before choosing whom to support.
Gaidels also confirmed that the UEFA boycott represented a common position. While a few federations were prepared to accept FIFA's offer, the majority of 55 countries, including Latvia, sided with UEFA.
