Arabic version: إنفانتينو يقول إن معظم كرة القدم العالمية تدعمه

According to BBC News, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he retains the support of the “vast, vast majority” of world football as questions continue over the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal.

In a rare interview with BBC Sport in Baku, Infantino laughed when asked whether he had considered resigning. He said disagreements were acceptable but that football’s different views needed to be brought together. Infantino said he had been elected by 211 member associations and that their views should be respected.

The Fifa Forward Enterprise plan, which Infantino withdrew within days, would have sold a portion of Fifa’s commercial rights to a private investment firm. Two months ago, the leaders of Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf accused him in a letter of breaking trust “through deception”.

Uefa has demanded that Fifa provide key documents relating to the proposal by 2 November. Infantino said Fifa was following a legal process and was “working on it”, while adding that it would answer questions as far as the process allowed. He also apologised to the Fifa Council over the “communication and consultation” surrounding FFE.

Infantino said the Asian Football Confederation had fully endorsed him and that all African countries backed him. The deadline for candidates to enter the March presidential election is 18 November. No candidate has yet filed, and Infantino could stand unopposed for a fourth term.

He was speaking at the first Fifa Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan, involving teams from 189 member associations. The boys’ event uses an 8v8 format, smaller pitches and 20-minute halves; Fifa plans a girls-only tournament next year before annual boys’ and girls’ competitions from 2028.