Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), has sparked widespread controversy with his recent actions by sending a congratulatory message to Kylian Mbappe, the French national team star, at a time when FIFA faces severe criticisms related to its recent economic proposals.
This move comes under tense circumstances surrounding Infantino’s position after he was forced to backtrack on his plan to offer 20% of the federation’s capital to private investors—a step that was widely rejected in football circles, especially by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Infantino posted a special congratulatory message to Kylian Mbappe on his Instagram account yesterday, praising his exceptional performance in the latest World Cup.
Infantino noted that Mbappe achieved a historic feat by becoming the top scorer for the second consecutive time by netting ten goals, in addition to breaking many records as the all-time top scorer of the tournament and for the French national team. This exaggerated praise from Infantino for Mbappe comes at a very sensitive time.
This initiative from the FIFA president comes just weeks after France’s elimination from the World Cup by the Spanish national team, raising questions about the timing of this congratulations and its real motives. Media reports suggested that Infantino is seeking popular support, and this post might be an attempt to court major stars like Kylian Mbappe to overcome the crisis FIFA is facing.
Infantino’s position has notably deteriorated after retracting his commercial plan on August 1, which aimed at maximizing FIFA’s revenues through the establishment of a commercial company. This step generated great discontent in the football world, putting Infantino in a difficult position where he seeks any possible support, perhaps hoping to gain this support through his direct communication with a star of Mbappe’s stature.
