A public declaration from the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) throwing unreserved support behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino and hailing his tenure leading global soccer has sparked sharp criticism from football industry observers.
The unsigned statement released by the ABFA praises Infantino’s leadership as visionary, describing his policy agenda as transformative and highlighting his administration’s investments in grassroots football development across smaller member associations. This public endorsement comes just months after Ickford “Nyah” Roberts won the ABFA presidential election in May, beating rival candidate Fernando Abraham in the final voting round. Roberts stepped into the role after Everton “Batow” Gonsalves, who held the presidency for four consecutive terms starting from his first election in 2008, stepped down.
But industry outlet Inside World Football has pushed back against the glowing tribute, dismissing the statement as excessively fawning and devoid of meaningful content. The publication points out that the endorsement puts the ABFA at odds with a number of fellow Caribbean and Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) member associations, which have openly raised concerns about the direction of Infantino’s policies in recent years.
A key point of contention raised by Inside World Football is the ABFA’s highlighting of FIFA funding delivered under Infantino’s watch. The outlet notes that much of the funding cited by the association was already allocated before Infantino assumed the FIFA presidency, and that the funds are resources that all FIFA member associations are legally entitled to receive as part of the governing body’s standard distribution framework.
The publication warns that the high-profile endorsement could have significant diplomatic consequences for the ABFA within regional football circles. It argues that the public show of support for Infantino could isolate the association from Caribbean football officials who are currently lobbying for widespread governance reforms and a larger slice of global football revenue for the Caribbean region, a bloc that has long argued it is under-resourced compared to larger football confederations.
Notably, Inside World Football frames this statement as Roberts’ first major foray into the complex landscape of international football politics. It also raises pressing questions about whether the hardline pro-Infantino position laid out in the statement actually represents the views of the broader Antiguan and Barbudan football community, rather than just the new leadership. The ABFA has long held a prominent, influential role across Caribbean football, including serving in key leadership positions within the Caribbean Football Union for decades.