Fifa chief arrives to further boost sport in the country

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) president Gianni Infantino will be making his first official visit to the Philippines as head of the sport’s governing body on Monday.

The 49-year-old Infantino, a Swiss-Italian lawyer who succeeded Sepp Blatter in 2016 before winning another three-year term early this year, has scheduled meetings with top government officials as well as Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes and the PFF board of governors.

The PFF will be reporting on its various projects funded by the football agency through the Fifa Forward Program, including the National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite, the Philippines Football League, the Women’s League, and the Under-15 Boys National Championship.

Gastanes said Infantino’s meeting with top government officials is aimed at exploring partnerships that would further the growth of football in the country through programs implemented by Fifa.

“We welcome Fifa president Gianni Infantino in his official visit to the Philippines,” said Araneta, who is also a member of the Fifa executive council.

“He is developing football countries’ greatest friend. We look forward to meeting him and showing him how far Philippine football has improved in recent years. May his visit here serve as an inspiring moment to all football stakeholders in the country, especially the youth.”