FIFA President Makes Brief Transit Stop in Dhaka

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon for a brief transit stop while travelling from Morocco to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal and senior members of the federation’s executive committee received the FIFA chief at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Dhaka served as a transit point for Infantino’s journey to Bhutan because no direct flight was available between his departure point and destination. His stopover in the Bangladeshi capital was scheduled to last around two hours.

The visit comes at a challenging time for Infantino, who has faced criticism from several FIFA member associations, particularly in Europe, over a controversial proposal to sell a minority stake in a new commercial entity managing the governing body’s competitions, including the World Cup.

FIFA abandoned the proposal in July following widespread opposition from football associations and other stakeholders. The controversy has continued to raise questions about governance and transparency within the organisation.

Tabith, however, recently praised Infantino’s leadership after meeting him on the sidelines of the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Jakarta.

FP/MIB