Key facts
- Fifa President Gianni Infantino has received support from the Union of Arab Football Associations.
- Uefa has threatened a boycott of Fifa competitions.
- Fifa acknowledged that a proposal to sell commercial rights "should have been handled differently".
- Fifa's management board and Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom publicly endorsed Infantino.
- Infantino is seeking a fourth term as Fifa president in the upcoming election.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino has received a significant boost in his bid for re-election following the endorsement of the Union of Arab Football Associations. This backing places European football's governing body, Uefa, in an increasingly isolated position as it continues its challenge to Infantino's leadership.
Infantino has faced intense scrutiny and backlash over a now-abandoned proposal to sell off parts of the World Cup's commercial future. Fifa issued an apology for the handling of the proposal, acknowledging that it "should have been handled differently" and that it was not their intention to exclude the FIFA Council or member associations. Despite this, Uefa has reaffirmed its threat of a boycott of Fifa events.