The German FA (DFB) said on Wednesday that "it was backing FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino in his bid to lead global football out of its current crisis," according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. The Swiss general secretary of UEFA "is one of five candidates for the Feb. 26 election." There is no clear favorite, but Infantino "would have a head start if he were to capture the majority of the 53 European votes." DFB interim co-President Reinhard Rauball said, "Gianni Infantino is the Europeans' candidate and the best one" (REUTERS, 1/20). REUTERS' Patrick Johnston wrote the Iraq FA pledged its support for Prince Ali bin-al Hussein "in next month's FIFA presidential election."
Ali "will stand against" Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, former FIFA Deputy General Secretary Jérôme Champagne of France, South African businessman and politician Tokyo Sexwale and Infantino.
IFA President Abdul Khaliq Masood said in a statement, "We have decided that Iraq's vote will go to Prince Ali because Prince Ali has always supported the development of football in Iraq, Jordan and our region" (REUTERS, 1/19).
