(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has given embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino his full backing ahead of the FIFA presidential election early next year.
The 77th FIFA Congress will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18 2027, when the FIFA presidential election will take place. Incumbent Gianni Infantino is seeking re-election for a fourth term.
The Caribbean has 25 FIFA members and Edwards made his position clear in Kingston following Jamaica’s CONCACAF Nations League match against Guatemala on Friday, during Infantino’s four-country Caribbean tour. The FIFA president also visited the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua as he continues to build support among member associations ahead of next year’s election. Infantino confirmed in May that he would seek re-election.
“We would have given president Infantino our full support and we have not wavered with that,” stated Edwards during an interview in Jamaica, “Things do come up, changes, you have to have discussions, you have to have dialogue, but these supporters, they [are] one hundred behind the president, always.”
“When it comes to the support of FIFA, in terms of growing football, not just in Trinidad and Tobago, across the Caribbean [and] CONCACAF, it’s been tremendous so far.”
Contacted yesterday, Edwards told the Express that the TTFA had not wavered from its initial position.
“Two-hundred and eleven countries did a letter earlier this year supporting Mister Infantino and that position has not changed,” stated Edwards. “Our position in supporting Mister Infantino’s re-election, has not changed from the TTFA.”
Edwards also backed Infantino’s move to review FIFA’s governance structures, following the controversy surrounding the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
“You’ll see over the last ten years the steps FIFA would have made in terms of our governance and it’s just a continuation of that. So, I’m pleased to see that document being circulated.
“It’s important to continue to review your procedures and policies, and continue to make changes. It’s just a step in the right direction for the president and his team to continue to review our structures, our policy, our governance, and continue to make steps in the right way.”
Edwards pointed to FIFA’s financial and infrastructural support as an important factor in the development of football in Trinidad and Tobago, saying: “Most parts of it [are] [thanks to] the support of FIFA. FIFA is our largest supporter when it comes to our infrastructure,” Edwards stated when interviewed in Jamaica.
He added: “Even our leagues, when we look at our women’s league now, full professional women’s league, playing for seven months of the year, over 12 teams, that was only based on the continuous support of FIFA, in terms of our game.”
Edwards’ comments came as Infantino’s re-election campaign faces opposition from within the football community. The FIFA president has faced criticism following the abandoned proposal to allow private investment in FIFA competitions, while CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has emerged as a prominent critic. Infantino nevertheless remains the only declared candidate for the March election at present.
Jamaica Football Federation president Michael Ricketts, who hosted Infantino for the Jamaica vs Guatemala match, also expressed strong support for the FIFA president.
“I think Infantino has done so very well for football, globally, and I remember when I got into football as the president, the support from FIFA was menial, to say the least. It has been a lot better now and we are just very grateful and we are looking forward [to] further improvement so that we can impact not just football, but the social well-being of every boy and girl that plays the sport.”
Infantino’s regional visit also took him to the British Virgin Islands, where he attended the inauguration of a new East End football pitch and technical centre.
BVI FA president Avanell Morton also backed his leadership. “Well, what more can he do? He’s doing a fantastic job already. He’s doing a fantastic job for the entire region,” Morton said.
“It’s about football, and as long as you are about football, then you have the opportunity to make football the priority.”
At the BVI facility, Infantino stressed FIFA’s responsibility to invest in young players and communities, saying: “Every day of the year, the smile on that face of that young girl or that young boy who can use these facilities, who can kick the ball, who can play football, who can dream…because the next Messi or the next Ronaldo or the next Maradona or the next Pelé may well be born here [British Virgin Islands].
“It is our responsibility as administrators and as leaders of our organisation to invest in that talent and to make that talent grow and flourish.”
Infantino also emphasised the wider benefits of football beyond producing elite players. “Now, maybe you don’t have the new Messi or Ronaldo or Maradona or Pelé or whatever; but even if not, you will have better citizens, better girls, better boys. Because we all know that football is much more than just a game, it is a school of life.”
For Infantino, the Caribbean visit has provided an opportunity to meet several member associations at a crucial stage of the campaign.
He leaves knowing he can count on support from Trinidad and Tobago.
“We would have given president Infantino our full support and we have not wavered with that,” Edwards stressed.
Discussion