The president of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, Fouzi Lekjaa, has described the past decade under Gianni Infantino as a period of “quiet revolution” and structural transformation in world football.

In a video message shared on the Moroccan national team’s official social media platforms to mark the tenth anniversary of Infantino’s election on February 26, 2016, Lekjaa praised what he termed a comprehensive overhaul of global football governance.

“Generally speaking, we are witnessing a quiet revolution in world football — a transformation of FIFA,” Lekjaa said. “What Gianni Infantino has achieved is tremendous. It represents a complete transformation of the organisation.”

Governance and Financial Reform

Lekjaa highlighted reforms in governance and financial transparency as central pillars of the transformation. According to him, restructuring efforts within FIFA have significantly multiplied revenues and strengthened accountability mechanisms.

He noted that the increase in resources has enabled development programmes to expand across continents, with funding for infrastructure, training and grassroots initiatives “doubling and even tripling” in some regions.

The Moroccan FA president emphasised that African federations, including the FRMF, have directly benefited from these expanded development allocations, accelerating progress in stadium construction, academy systems and technical supervision.

Expanding the Global Game

Lekjaa also pointed to sweeping reforms in competition formats. Chief among them was the expansion of the FIFA World Cup, increasing the number of participating nations, alongside broader adjustments across youth and women’s competitions.

“These reforms reflect a vision of globalising football,” Lekjaa said, adding that broader participation has provided emerging football nations with greater opportunities on the world stage.

That vision, he suggested, has tangible implications for Morocco. The country is set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal in a centenary celebration spanning two continents — marking only the second time the tournament will be staged on African soil.

For Lekjaa, the joint hosting rights underscore Africa’s growing integration into football’s global leadership architecture.

Strategic Gains for Morocco

Beyond tournament hosting, Lekjaa highlighted another milestone: the establishment of FIFA’s African headquarters in Rabat.

Describing the move as “highly significant,” he said the presence of the continental office strengthens development, training and institutional capacity-building initiatives across Africa.

“Like all African and global federations, we have benefited from development-dedicated resources that have accelerated football development programs,” Lekjaa concluded.

As FIFA marks a decade under Infantino’s leadership, Lekjaa’s remarks reflect a broader narrative of structural reform and competitive expansion — one that, in Morocco’s view, has redefined governance, redistributed opportunity, and repositioned Africa more centrally within world football’s evolving order.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that Gianni Infantino’s participation in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace alongside United States President Donald Trump does not breach the Olympic Charter’s rules on political neutrality.

Infantino, who serves as president of FIFA and is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, attended Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Peace. The initiative is focused on reconstruction efforts in Gaza and aims to support rebuilding work in the territory once Hamas disarms.

“The IOC has been in contact with FIFA,” an IOC spokesperson said on Saturday. “We understand that FIFA is supporting, through football, a comprehensive sport recovery investment programme in Gaza, Palestine, by providing sporting infrastructure, education and elite development proposals.

“This is entirely in keeping with the role of an international sport federation. The IOC, through Olympic Solidarity, which is our development vehicle, has been and continues to support sport development in the region,” the spokesperson added.

The Olympic Charter requires IOC members to remain independent of political and commercial interests and prohibits them from accepting mandates or instructions from governments or other parties that could interfere with their freedom of action or vote.

The Board of Peace, spearheaded by Trump, has drawn controversy. While it includes Israel, it does not feature Palestinian representatives. Trump’s suggestion that the board could expand its focus beyond Gaza has also prompted concerns among some observers that it might encroach on the United Nations’ traditional role in global diplomacy and conflict resolution.

Infantino appeared on stage with several heads of state during the event, wearing a red hat emblazoned with “USA” and the numbers “45–47,” referencing Trump’s two non-consecutive presidencies. He also displayed a FIFA collaboration agreement with the Board of Peace outlining plans to construct 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas in Gaza, five full-size pitches across multiple districts, a FIFA academy and a new 20,000-seat national stadium.

Trump and Infantino have met on several occasions, with the United States preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada. In December, Trump was awarded FIFA’s inaugural peace prize, with the governing body citing his efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation in global conflict zones.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who was elected in 2025, has not yet met Trump. The 2028 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Former member of the Nigeria Football Federation and Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has reaffirmed her leadership’s resolve to reposition the Commission and strengthen enforcement of the federal character principle despite persistent funding constraints.

Hon. Omidiran gave the assurance on Friday during the Commission’s 2026 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character at the National Assembly in Abuja.

She told lawmakers that inadequate budgetary allocations have continued to hamper the Commission’s statutory responsibilities, including nationwide monitoring, compliance audits and enforcement actions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are focused and determined to do the work that the Constitution and the President have entrusted us with,” Omidiran stated.

The FCC boss, however, maintained that the Commission remains committed to promoting equity, fairness and balanced representation in line with its constitutional mandate.

“As a Commission, it is our responsibility to engage with relevant government parastatals and ministries to secure the necessary funding we require. We believe that with consultation and collaboration, it will be a successful venture for the Commission,” she added.

Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, Ahmed Idris Wase, expressed concern over what he described as near-zero allocation to the Commission, warning that such financial shortfalls significantly weaken its operational effectiveness.

The Plateau State lawmaker assured the Commission of the Committee’s legislative backing in pushing for improved funding and enhanced capacity to fully execute its constitutional mandate.

“We cannot reasonably expect the Federal Character Commission to enforce compliance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies while grappling with insufficient funding,” Wase said.

“If we are genuinely committed to fairness, equity and national cohesion, then we must be deliberate in adequately funding the institution established to safeguard these principles.

“As a Committee, we shall work closely with the leadership of the Commission to ensure that its budgetary provisions reflect the magnitude of its mandate. The era of skeletal or token funding must give way to realistic and sustainable financial support,” he added.

The budget defence session ended with both the House Committee and the Commission pledging closer collaboration aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing accountability and promoting equitable representation within Nigeria’s public service.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H