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KIGALI. — Gianni Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali yesterday, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of US$11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world.

Infantino was re-elected by acclaim to another four-year term yesterday after suggesting the financial results under his leadership would keep an industry CEO in the job for life.

Infantino had no opponent in the election and won by acclaim instead of a formal vote by the FIFA Congress in Kiagli, Rwanda. The 211 member federations saw their basic annual funding from FIFA rise from US$250 000 to US$2 million since his first win in 2016.

FIFA had US$4 billion in reserves after the World Cup in Qatar finished in December. It has conservatively forecast record revenue of at least US$11 billion through the 2026 World Cup in North America.

“If a CEO tells the stakeholders that the products were multiplied by seven I believe that they would keep that CEO forever,” Infantino told FIFA members. “They would love for this story to keep on going.

“But I am here for a four-year cycle only,” added Infantino, whose presidency can eventually run to 15 years through 2031.

Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of world football’s governing body a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations for a range of reasons, including pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup every two years. “It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a great responsibility,” Infantino said. “I promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world.

“To those that love me, and I know there are many, and those who hate me … I love you all.”

Infantino confirmed FIFA’s income hit record levels in the last cycle from 2019-22, but promised to substantially raise this again on the back of expanded men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments and the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup.

“Revenues rose to a record US$7.5 billion (to 2022) in a period that was hit by Covid-19. When I arrived, FIFA reserves stood at around US$1 billion, today they are at almost US$4 billion,” Infantino said.

“We promise new record revenues for the next cycle of US$11 billion, and the new Club World Cup is not included in that figure, so it could increase by a couple of billion (more).”

Infantino said FIFA would continue to revue the transfer system to “improve transparency” and suggested the organisation might discuss a salary cap.

“We must improve our regulations and the FIFA statues. We will continue to evolve our good governance principles and look at the transfer system, and maybe have a discussion to improve transparency of transfer fees and salaries. “It might be necessary to introduce a cap, we have to think how we can do that. We will look at it with all stakeholders and see what we can do.”

Ahead of the election, FIFA had already approved plans to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams in 2025, while Infantino opened the first ‘’Pele’’ stadium in Kigali after calling for all nations to name a ground after the Brazilian icon. — AFP.