Malinzi congratulates new FIFA president

THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), president Jamal Malinzi, has formally written to Gianni Infantino to congratulate him after being voted in as the new president of football’s world governing body FIFA

In his congratulatory letter, Malinzi said the TFF and the entire football in Tanzania is excited following Infantino’s election as the head custodian of global football. “We are full of trust in your promise of taking football forward and ensuring that FIFA wins back the trust of the football community, while serving the needs of its members.

He further said, “On behalf of the TFF, I promise you all the support you need while serving in your new position and wish you a successful tenure. Head of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, also wrote to Infantino to congratulate him. Infantino succeeds fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter, after polling 115 votes, 27 more than closest rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, at Friday’s election.

Infantino was not the favoured candidate of CAF, who had given its backing to Sheikh Salman. Despite that, Cameroon’s Hayatou - who had been FIFA’s acting president in the lead-up to the election - sent Infantino a letter, dated 27 February 2016, congratulating him on behalf of the CAF Executive committee and ‘the African football family’:

“Be assured of the continued support of CAF, African members of the new FIFA Council, as well as our commitment to strengthening the excellent relationship between CAF and FIFA,” Hayatou wrote. After his victory, Infantino promised to restore the image of FIFA, and Hayatou backed him to fulfil his pledge.

“We are confident that you will restore FIFA’s image backed by your career, skills, passion for football, understanding of the issues related to the future of football, and your desire to develop our sport around the four corners of the world,” said the CAF President.

With 54 member African confederations able to vote in the presidential election - more than any other FIFA region - CAF’s support for Sheikh Salman installed the Bahranian as a favourite to win.

But in the lead-up to the election, some African federations confirmed they would not be following CAF’s directive, including Liberia, whose FA Chairman Musa Bility claimed that 26 African FA presidents had told him they would not be voting for Sheikh Salman.

Meanwhile, the Arab region squandered the chance to help elect their first FIFA president because their two candidates failed to cooperate, leaving the door open for Swiss Gianni Infantino to triumph on Friday, Arab football chiefs and pundits said.

UEFA’s Infantino got 88 votes in the first round, three more than Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, while Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan managed 27 and Frenchman Jerome Champagne won seven.

“Some countries gave promises but didn’t fulfil them. We are all Arabs but unfortunately some support the other party (candidate) and we hope this change in the future,” Bahrain FA president Ali Al Khalifa said in a television interview.

“We as Arabs should unite our efforts and be clear with each other.” “It appears from the first round that some countries have joined the other party (candidate). We have now to look forward and help FIFA’s new president get (the world governing body) out of the current crisis”, he added.