Dutch reverse support for Infantino, call for reform and new direction
August 31 – The Dutch FA (KNVB) has called for a ‘new FIFA’ – to be discussed at a conference – and withdrawn support for current boss Gianni Infantino.
Under his leadership, Infantino has long presented the world federation as ‘the new FIFA’ but in a letter, seen by Insideworldfootball, to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, the Dutch called for a FIFA without Infantino – a new iteration of the world governing body with improved governance, a different development model and more social focus.
The KNVB wrote that it “no longer has confidence in Gianni Infantino’s leadership and believes that FIFA needs new leadership embedded in an effective new governance framework.”
“We see too much power concentrated around the FIFA president and insufficient separation between the president and the FIFA administration,” the federation said. “The process surrounding the now-withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal was a turning point for us. Withdrawing the proposal was necessary, but it does not restore the trust that has been lost.”
They added, in a statement: “The key question is: what kind of FIFA does football need? Our ambition is clear: a strong and credible FIFA that belongs to football, serves its members and develops the game around the world.”
In their letter they proposed a target of 90% of FIFA’s revenues should be reinvested directly in member associations.
“Working towards returning up to 90% of FIFA’s distributable revenues to the development of football, primarily through Member Associations and global development programmes, while maintaining the reserves required to operate FIFA responsibly and sustainably.”
Earlier this year, the Dutch were one of 200 associations who had endorsed Infantino in a letter of support, but the FIFA boss saw that backing erode in the wake of his plans to sell off a stake in the World Cup. Infantino abandoned those ambitions, but he remains under pressure to resign.
Last week, UEFA submitted three filings in US courts that may lead to a criminal trial against Infantino. However, the football boss has not given any indication yet that he will step down. Instead, he flew to the Caribbean and Vietnam to rally support. Infantino did cancel a talk in the Hamptons at a Milken event, according to the New York put.
In response to the FFE scandal, the Dutch federation, a founding member of FIFA, wants to stage a summit to discuss the future of FIFA and governance. They called the current crisis “a defining moment. A moment not only to reflect on what has gone wrong, but to decide what should come next. For the KNVB, that requires new leadership and a new direction for FIFA.”
“With FIFA under intense scrutiny, we believe this is a defining moment. A moment not only to reflect on what has gone wrong, but to decide what should come next. For the KNVB, that
requires new leadership and a new direction for FIFA. The future of our game belongs to the
generations that come after us. It is our responsibility to leave them a FIFA worthy of their trust,” concluded the letter signed by KNVB president Frank Paauw and KNVB general secretary Gijs de Jong.
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