“Let the 211 member associations decide,” Patrice Motsepe defends Gianni Infantino.

The president of the African Football Confederation (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has defended Gianni Infantino as the FIFA president faces increasing challenges within international football. According to the South African leader, his counterpart can only be removed in accordance with the electoral procedures of the global body. CAF is among the confederations that continue to back Infantino. In contrast, UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF have sharply criticized the Swiss leader following the abandonment of his plan to sell stakes in certain commercial activities related to the World Cup to private investors.

Several leaders have notably called for his resignation and urged Infantino to step back from seeking a new term in the upcoming elections, scheduled for March. However, as FIFA’s vice-president, Patrice Motsepe believes that the president of the global body cannot be ousted outside the framework set by the statutes. “If someone has a problem with anyone, whether it’s Gianni or someone else, the procedure should be followed, follow FIFA’s procedure. It’s that simple,” Motsepe said to Sky News.

The CAF chief then reminded that Infantino’s future needs to be decided by the FIFA member associations. “If you want to remove him, hold elections; let the 211 member associations decide,” he added. Motsepe finally called on all parties to exercise restraint as the next election approaches. “We need to be very careful. Elections will take place next year. Shouldn’t we let this process continue?,” he concluded.