FIFA presidential nominee Salman slams Infantino’s payout proposal

FIFA presidential nominee Sheikh Salman has lashed out at fellow front-runner Gianni Infantino, claiming that the current general secretary of UEFA has proposed payouts for member states that the Sheikh says will bankrupt world football’s governing body.

The Bahraini president of the Asian Football Confederation spoke with Rob Harris of the Associated Press on Tuesday, and asserted that Infantino’s plan to vastly increase cash payouts to member federations will deplete the $1.523-billion reserves reported in 2014.

With the organization facing a deficit of $560 million, Salman argued that Infantino’s proposal to commit $5 million to each of the 209 federations should he be elected will bankrupt FIFA. The prospective payouts of $5 million would be a massive increase on the $2.05 million gifted to each federation from 2011-14.

“I think in three years we (FIFA) would be bankrupt – that’s how it is,” Salman said. “Every person can see this cannot happen. The numbers do not match at all … you cannot make promises that you cannot keep.”

Though FIFA will not release its 2015 financial report until next month, Salman is a member of its finance committee, and as such, is privy to the details of the anticipated deficit facing the governing body.

“The expected deficit for the next four years is $560 million – this is going to be withdrawn from the reserves,” the former head of the Bahraini Football Association said.

“If you are a chair of a company that is making losses and you say you are going to distribute dividends to your shareholders, it doesn’t make sense.”

Salman’s contention that FIFA’s business practices and that of a large company are analogous is hard to argue, especially in light of recent controversies and arrests that have sullied the reputation of the organization, and put its financial methods into question.

“It’s not up to the elected president to make such a risky decision as well,” he added. “What kind of democracy and what kind of organization should be run by one man?”

“They know FIFA as an organization, that it’s not as it was before,” Salman continued. “So the priorities are different. We have to look after our own home and make sure that it’s functioning in the right way before we move on to the others.”

Even with support for Infantino strengthening, which is increasing the possibility that the current UEFA employee could become FIFA’s next boss, Salman claims that he will do all he can to block Infantino’s payout proposal should the Italian emerge victorious.

“If I am not elected as president I will still be a FIFA vice president and I will always do what is right for the organization to maintain that support for other countries as well,” Salman said.

Five nominees remain on the ballot for Friday’s election to replace the now-disgraced and currently banned Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA, with Salman and Infantino joining Prince Ali of Jordan as the favourites. France’s Jerome Champagne and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale remain long shots.

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