Argentina FA backs Infantino amid standoff with UEFA

The Argentine Football Association has publicly thrown its weight behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his work over the past decade. In an open letter, the AFA said it takes a positive view of FIFA's leadership, pointing to the global growth of the game and institutional stability as the cornerstones of the past 10 years. The Argentine body also endorsed FIFA's decision to shelve the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which had raised serious questions within the football community. "We want to express our support for the work carried out over the last 10 years, whose main focuses have been the development of football worldwide and institutional stability based on a clear, stable and transparent governance model. We recognize the administration's decision to withdraw a project that, from the very beginning, raised more questions than answers within the football family. At the same time, the acknowledgment of the mistakes made in the process, as well as the apologies addressed to FIFA's 211 member associations, should be noted. The priority given to the principles of good governance is a fundamental basis for strengthening relations between FIFA, its members and the confederations. You lead an administration that has driven a deep transformation of FIFA, opening the organization's doors to all member associations and confederations, so that through open and direct dialogue we can continue to develop football together at all levels and in all disciplines. The AFA firmly believes that it is necessary to keep working under your leadership in order to continue the development of football and make it even better and more inclusive," the statement said. Argentina's backing carries extra weight for Infantino as tensions between FIFA and UEFA escalate. The European confederation had previously blasted world football's leadership over the preparation of a commercial project without proper consultation with national associations and confederations. FIFA Forward Enterprise was meant to create a separate company to manage commercial rights linked to the World Cup, with the possibility of bringing in private investors. FIFA later pulled the plug on the plan. The AFA emphasized that it remains committed to working with Infantino and supporting the drive to keep football moving forward.