FIFA Congress: FIFA President Announces His Intention to Run for Re-Election for New Term in Next Congress

Doha, March 31 (QNA) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced his intention to run for re-election for a new term in the next Congress, on the sidelines of the 72nd FIFA Congress, hosted today in the Qatari capital, Doha. FIFA Congress adopted the minutes of the 71st version of FIFA Congress with 200 votes. FIFA Congress voted to suspend the membership of Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Kenya Football Federation with a majority of 195 votes The meeting adopted the annual financial report for the year 2021, which included the consolidated financial resources for the year, the legal financial statements for this year, and the detailed budget for the year 2023, as well as proposals to amend the statute and the regulations governing the application of the statute and the statutes of Congress, in addition to discussing proposals submitted by the member associations and the Council. Based on a proposal by the State of Qatar, the Congress voted to adopt the Arabic language as an official language for FIFA, during the proposal regarding Article 9 of official languages, and to increase it to nine languages instead of four. Infantino said that FIFA cannot resolve the world's problem but can give hope and contribute to saving human dignity worldwide. During his speech in Congress, Infantino touched on Qatar's winning the right to organize the World Cup in 2010. He stressed that since taking over the presidency of FIFA in 2016, he spoke with officials in Qatar and worked together to address various issues that concern the right to organize, especially workers' rights. Considering that the only way through which a positive change can be made is through dialogue, communication and engagement, which is what the State of Qatar has done since the beginning in light of its response and doing everything necessary to bring about the required changes. He said that five billion people will view the World Cup 2022, in addition to three million people who will come to Qatar. He said that the event will present the Arab world with the opportunity to show what it can offer, and for people around the world to get to know the Arabic culture. Infantino discussed three main topics. The first was the difficult and unstable challenges that the world suffers from, adding that health and safety come first and before football. He said that FIFA has prepared an aid plan worth USD 1.5 billion to help football associations in need. He added that war instills fear in the hearts, highlighting the events taking place in Ukraine and the many wars that are taking place in other regions around the world that cannot be forgotten, especially in light of the killing of innocent people who suffer every day. He stressed his belief however in the power of football and its ability to unite people. He said that the Russia World Cup in 2018 was by all means a great World Cup, and a great success sportingly and culturally. He maintained however that the event did not solve the problems of the world and did not create lasting peace. The second topic was on the duty of FIFA towards football fans. He expressed his pride that FIFA managed to increase its revenue by USD 6.4 billion and worked for two years to fight corruption. On holding the World Cup every two years, he said that it is a proposal that is currently being examined, and that there was no rush to reach a conclusion. (QNA)