KEIR RADNEDGE in CASABLANCA —- Gianni Infantino has had his personal credibility challenged, as president of FIFA, to ensure a level and fair playing field in the increasingly febrile contest for host rights to the 2026 World Cup.
The world federation decides on the venue for the expanded 48-team finals in its annual congress on June 13 in Moscow on the eve of the Opening Match of this year’s Russian-hosted version.
Morocco and a three-way co-hosting United bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the rivals, assuming both safely surmount the analysis later next month of an increasingly controversial evaluation taskforce.
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An expectation of Infantino to remain strictly neutral and above the fray was issued here in Casablanca by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, the 58-year-old multi-millionaire who is not only Morocco’s Industry Minister but chairman of the local 2026 bid committee.
Morocco’s bid is viewed by many observers of the world game as a David v Goliath contest as a country taking on an entire continent. But the Moroccans have made distinct political progress in the hunt for votes, assisted by international reaction to the ‘Trump factor.’
FIFA scandals
The reforms undertaken by FIFA after the multi-layered scandals of the past decade were recalled by Elalamy in stating Morocco’s right to a fair hearing. In the background lurk suggestions that Infantino, privately, prefers the US-led option.
Elalamy said: “The values of equity and righteousness should be the values of FIFA, which I cannot doubt. It’s very serious if the opinion of a president could change strategic opinions.
“I think [FIFA] went through changes to achieve transparency and I am still convinced that these responsibilities will not allow [him] to have a partial position. It’s difficult to enter a race and say the referee or judge is not partial. FIFA needed to reform/review itself and I am convinced this has been the case.”
Elalamy’s stated confidence in Infantino’s moral rectitude does not necessarily reflect suspicions about the FIFA president within the wider African game, particularly after the rows over bid presentations and the make-up and powers of the evaluation panel.
He remains confident about Morocco’s potential, everything being equal.
Elalamy said: “We have the potential to win and if we should lose we should accept it in the spirit of sport and none of us can have any regrets as long as the judges and referees did their job well because we know we cannot win all the time.
“I think as long as everything is clear and transparent then the best bid will win. If our friends [from United 2026] win then we will be the first to congratulate them.
“If the World Cup should take place in Morocco we will be happier because it will also be an African achievement and it will be deserved because of the work we have achieved which has been serious and professional.
“We are confident in terms of our project as long as the criteria are equitable for all. This is most important for me.”
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