Gianni Infantino has faced significant backlash from Concacaf nations after appearing at a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) meeting in the Dominican Republic, despite a direct request from the confederation’s president, Victor Montagliani, to avoid the event. The Fifa president used the gathering to announce the release of long-delayed development funds, a move viewed by many attendees as a calculated attempt to secure support for his re-election campaign.
In a letter sent last Friday, Montagliani had urged Infantino “in the name of football to reconsider your attendance,” noting that his presence would distract from a regional under-14 tournament taking place at the same venue. Ignoring this request, Infantino arrived at the Punta Cana resort accompanied by a large delegation, including secretary general Mattias Grafström and Elkhan Mammadov, a key ally tasked with managing relations with the 211 member associations.
Sources present at the meeting reported that many Concacaf members were infuriated by the intrusion. Before the formal session, Infantino’s team reportedly lobbied individual associations for support. Mammadov, who has been central to these efforts since the Fifa Forward Enterprise scandal, has faced criticism for his persistent approach. During the event, the official Fifa party allegedly attempted to frame the ongoing governance crisis as a personal disagreement between Infantino and Montagliani.
This incident mirrors recent tensions involving the Jordan FA. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, the Jordan FA president, accused Infantino of bribery earlier this month, alleging that prize money from last year’s Arab Cup was withheld as punishment for the country’s failure to back the Fifa president. Infantino appears to be targeting the Caribbean region to create a divide within Concacaf, which has largely aligned with Uefa and the Asian Football Confederation to demand his resignation following the World Cup sell-off controversy.
While Mexico, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis have publicly declared their support for Infantino, the majority of the 41 Concacaf members are believed to remain committed to the alliance with Uefa. This partnership extends beyond the current leadership struggle; the two confederations are actively discussing a joint Nations League for 2028, a project that could evolve into a new global competition.
Although Infantino and Montagliani shared a brief, staged handshake captured by a personal camera crew before the meeting, the underlying friction remains. Montagliani, a Canadian businessman, has remained silent regarding the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise but is widely considered in Europe as a potential successor to the current Fifa leadership. The report also notes that mammadov has played a central role in attempts to keep them onside since the Fifa Forward Enterprise scandal broke and his insistent approach has caused disquiet in some quarters.
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