Former Green Eagles striker Segun Odegbami says does not expect so much from the new FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.
Odegbami tried to run for the FIFA presidency but backed out due to lack of support and he has not said Infantino might not have so much to do because there are no problems in football.
Infantino was the former general secretary of UEFA before winning the FIFA presidency elections in late February.
Despite the spate of corruption cases affecting FIFA, Odegbami believes Infantino has less work to do.
He told the Punch: “I have not met him, but I have read what he said in his speech and I think they are accommodating enough for anybody expecting reforms.
“What I think I am expecting is that he will perform to the level of everything he has said in his speech and if he does that, it is very good for the game.
“I have little expectation because there is little wrong about the game; nothing has been wrong with the quality of world football.
“You can notice that while the whole corruption mess was going on, it did not disturb the flow of the game. There are no problems in football.”
Odegbami also said the problem with FIFA lies with its administration and not the game of football itself.
Gianni Infantino after winning the FIFA presidency elections on Friday
“Nobody will come into FIFA and make drastic changes or reforms in the game because the game is okay.
“The problem is the administration, finances, the authenticity of process and fraud; these are the things that scandalise the body and not the game.
“The new president has been with Sepp Blatter before and fortunately survived him, which is a lesson enough for Infantino to do things correctly this time around.
“I think he will not mess up, but rather try to justify the confidence that 270 countries around the world have in making him the president,’’ he said.
Odegbami, was a member of the team that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. He wore 46 caps for Nigeria between 1976 and 1982.
Odegbami, who also captained Nigeria to 1980 Olympics in Moscow, is the second African to make attempt at FIFA presidency after Liberia’s Musa Bility.
Post a Comment