Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino is a Swiss-Italian football administrator and the president of FIFA since February 2016. He was re-elected in June 2019 and in March 2023. In January 2020, he was also elected a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Some of the key events about Gianni Infantino
2000
Joined UEFA as a lawyer, beginning a long career in football administration
2009
Appointed as UEFA's Director of Legal Affairs and Club Licensing Division
2011
Promoted to UEFA General Secretary, becoming the organization's second-in-command
2015
Launched successful campaign for FIFA presidency
2016
Elected as the ninth President of FIFA
2016
Introduced reforms to improve transparency and governance in FIFA
2016
Faced criticism for proposing to expand the World Cup to 48 teams
2017
Expanded the FIFA World Cup format from 32 to 48 teams, starting from 2026
2017
Oversaw controversial decision to move 2022 World Cup to winter months in Qatar
2018
Implemented Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in major FIFA competitions
2018
Supported the use of VAR technology in football, which has been criticized for disrupting game flow
2019
Launched the FIFA Foundation to promote social change through football
2019
Proposed changes to the Club World Cup format, drawing opposition from UEFA and top European clubs
2020
Oversaw the successful organization of international tournaments during the COVID-19 pandemic
2020
Faced allegations of cronyism in FIFA's handling of ethics complaints
2021
Criticized for appearing to support the failed European Super League project initially
2022
Delivered a controversial speech on the eve of the Qatar World Cup, deflecting human rights concerns
2022
Faced backlash for suggesting World Cups could be held every three years instead of four
2023
Criticized for pushing through decision to host 2030 World Cup across six countries without proper consultation
2023
Faced controversy over FIFA's partnership with Visit Saudi to sponsor Women's World Cup
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