BFF yet to take a position on Infantino: Tabith

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is yet to take a position on FIFA president Gianni Infantino or his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, BFF president Tabith Awal said, clarifying that the federation has not given any advance support to the FIFA chief.

Tabith's comments came after an international media report claimed that Bangladesh was among the countries supporting Infantino, who is seeking re-election as FIFA president in 2027.

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“Bangladesh has not taken any decision in favour of anyone because it will be done after discussions with the executive committee,” Tabith told reporters at the BFF House on Sunday.

Bangladesh has not taken any decision in favour of anyone because it will be done after discussions with the executive committee.

He said the BFF follows a process in which all major decisions are first discussed by its executive committee before the federation communicates its position to FIFA.

“Whatever decision the BFF makes, it is finalised by the executive committee, and we always inform you of the executive committee's decision,” he said.

“There has been no advance support or confirmation from us for any proposal. We have not given any support to any individual either. Nor have we given support to any organisation.”

FIFA had invited member associations to give their views on the FFE proposal, which envisaged giving a private firm a 20 per cent stake in the future World Cup. The firm had committed to investing in the project, with member associations potentially receiving up to $40 million each in the future FIFA Forward cycle, compared with the current $10 million.

However, the BFF executive committee had not considered the proposal before FIFA announced that the FFE programme was being abandoned.

Tabith said that although the proposal had been scrapped, the wider issues surrounding Infantino, his term and FIFA's future leadership remained unresolved.

Although FIFA Forward Enterprise has been abandoned, I think we need to analyse more deeply the issues that have been raised regarding the FIFA president, the term and future leadership.

“Although FIFA Forward Enterprise has been abandoned, I think we need to analyse more deeply the issues that have been raised regarding the FIFA president, the term and future leadership,” he said.

He added that the BFF would need to consider the matter beyond its executive committee because of its increasingly geopolitical nature.

“There are many aspects that need to be analysed. I do not want to say anything without speaking to the executive committee,” Tabith said. “For that reason, I think we need to discuss the matter not only with the executive committee but also with our ministry. We also need to consider the views of our Foreign Ministry.”

Infantino has retained support from several parts of world football despite the controversy. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee has backed him, while Qatar, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Bhutan, the Philippines, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay and the United Arab Emirates have also publicly supported his leadership.

UEFA and CONCACAF, meanwhile, have publicly opposed Infantino's position over the FFE controversy.

Tabith said the BFF would communicate its position once the executive committee had considered the matter.

“When the time comes, of course, we will have to give our opinion, and we will let you know through you what that opinion will be.”