FIFA’s Infantino gets election backing from 11-voter Oceania

President of The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino. (Photo: AFP)


The 11-member Oceania Football Confederation says it is backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino for re-election.

The Oceania group says its executive committee comprising 11 member federation presidents in New Zealand and the Pacific islands voted unanimously to support the FIFA leader.

Infantino is seeking a full four-year term from 211 FIFA member countries at a June 5 vote in Paris.

He was elected in February 2016 to complete the mandate of Sepp Blatter, who was banned by FIFA’s ethics committee. Infantino has no clear challenger yet before a Feb. 5 deadline for potential candidates.