FIFA president Infantino looking for support from Donald Trump amid storm of backlash

[p]The Post reported that Infantino ‌had repeatedly tried and failed to reach ‌US President Donald Trump by phone since the proposal collapsed on Friday, and that the ‌FIFA chief felt "isolated" by an ⁠avalanche of negative ‌media coverage.[/p][p]The Post reported that Infantino scheduled private ​talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with two sources familiar with ​the matter confirming that the FIFA boss will hold a call with America's ⁠top diplomat just ​after 9 a.m. ET.[/p][p]Criticism has intensified over his failed plan to spin off the world soccer governing body's commercial assets into ‌a $20 billion subsidiary backed by private investors, which included Josh Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law.[/p][embed guid="cbdc0fb8-cb34-4b1c-aead-df0d2e22d542" url="https://x.com/Acyn/status/2083225007715672357?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]FIFA had no immediate comment, while the White House did not immediately respond to a [i][b]Reuters[/b][/i] request for comment.[/p][p]FIFA's plan to unlock up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new entity overseeing competitions including ‌the World Cup ended in retreat on ​Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders.[/p][p]With ‌the idea abandoned, attention has now turned to the potential repercussions for 56-year-old Swiss Infantino, whose bid for another term as FIFA president from 2027 to ⁠2031 faces increased ⁠scrutiny following the ‌failed initiative.[/p][p]The Welsh FA became the first federation to officially withdraw its support for Infantino, while England are reportedly set to follow, as well as a host of other European football associations.[/p]