Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterUnder-fire FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has the explicit support of Donald Trump but is still in his post regardless.Infantino is clinging to his role despite the widespread backlash to his plans to sell a significant percentage of the commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors. Associates of Trump were reportedly lined up but resistance from around the world and within FIFA itself halted the sell-off in its tracks.UEFA took its opportunity to flex a muscle or two. That Infantinos scheme allowed the European confederation to mount its guns on the integrity of football only serves to show how abhorrent the FIFA presidents leadership has become.Gianni Infantino set to play his other trump cardOpposition to Infantinos sell-off plan and his presidency in general has been global but by no means universal. UEFA is among the bodies willing to dig in but there are reasons Infantino has enjoyed such widespread support and theyre not going away.Waving enormous stacks of cash under the noses of struggling federations was supposed to win a vote on Infantinos plans for the World Cup. When it comes to protecting his throne, he has other tools in the box. You may like Donald Trump misses the point spectacularly with one-word revelation about FIFA President Gianni Infantino Who could replace Gianni Infantino as FIFA president? Sepp Blatter lecturing Gianni Infantino is embarrassing Gianni Infantino has reportedly expressed a willingness to support another expansion of the World Cup, reports the Mirror.It has been suggested that Infantino would be in favour of the tournament increasing from 48 to 64 teams, amid ongoing uncertainty around his future in the job.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Infantino travelled to Colombia on Friday to attend the inauguration of the country's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, where discussions over a potential expansion of the World Cup are said to have taken place.Expansion of the mens World Cup from 48 teams to 64, and indeed from 32 teams to 48, is motivated by matters beyond the sheer commercial weight of a larger tournament or any paper-thin notion that it welcomes more federation in the name of growing the sport.Each FIFA Member Association holds an equal vote. Major changes are passed on that basis, which is vulnerable to disproportionately incentivising smaller federations with, say �30 million, and to complications like bloc voting. What to read next Gianni Infantino has issued a $40 million ultimatum over despicable World Cup sell-off plan FIFA president Gianni Infantino is Donald Trumps choice for key United Nations role Gianni Infantino receives major new blow to FIFA presidency as peers admit 'trust is broken' With 211 members around the world, FIFAs president would effectively be saying to a significant proportion of his electorate that he is opening the World Cup to them for the first time.Its difficult to vote against that, and its difficult to vote against the president who gives it his backing, no matter the extent to which hes abdicating his responsibility towards a sport for which he shows little regard.The fly in the ointment from Infantinos point of view is that a 64-team World Cup can only be a meaningful pillar of his manifesto if some of those teams are European.As it stands, the shelving of his plans have not yet stood down UEFAs threat to boycott FIFA competitions the European governing body demanded that future assurances be put in place and appears to smell blood in the big office.UEFA is not fighting alone but even if an expanded World Cup tempts away its allies, even if all 156 non-UEFA nations voted for and then with Infantino, Europe can kill the World Cup at a stroke.TOPICSWorld CupChris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
