FIFA president Gianni Infantino hails Oman's Gulf Cup victory

Energy Wednesday 07/February/2018 22:15 PM
By: Times News Service
FIFA president Gianni Infantino hails Oman's Gulf Cup victory

Muscat: Gianni Infantino, president of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), after landing in Muscat on Wednesday, congratulated Oman on its victory in the Gulf Cup.
The football governing body’s head, who flew in from Manchester, was in town to participate in the FIFA Executive Summit, which is being held in Oman. “Let me congratulate the Oman Football Association for winning the Gulf Cup, a clear picture showcasing the game reaching its height. I was very pleased to be at the opening of the Cup in Kuwait and to see teams playing and celebrating football together,” Infantino said.
International hub
“FIFA came to Oman to celebrate the victory of the Cup. Oman is an easily accessible international hub for football and it has a great football association and players,” he said, while addressing the media.
“This time at the summit, I want to listen and not speak. I want to hear what all the members have to say and suggest for the development of various programmes, including transportation. The seventh summit of the year is the day after tomorrow in Kemboja,”
he said.
Other officials who have arrived for the summit included Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, president of the Qatar Football Association; Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Federation; Greg Clarke, chairman of the English FA; Sunil Gulati president of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF); and Chung Mong-Gyu, president of the South Korean Football Association; and the Vice-President of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
Also, Dato’ Windsor, General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will present a clubs licensing workshop on Thursday. The main theme of the summit, which began on Wednesday, is “Bringing Football Back to FIFA and FIFA to Football”. It is aimed at strengthening the relationship between FIFA and its member associations.
The last cycle involved 11 summits, the last of which concluded in London on March 7 in 2017. Speaking to the media, Windsor said: “The 2022 World Cup is taking place in Qatar, and I hope this event will take us to a fruitful collaboration and cooperation that extends to the whole region, as the World Cup is not limited to one country or region.”
Regarding who will be hosting the 2026 World Cup, the president said that 211 member votes would go to the host country.
“There will be no votes from the president. FIFA makes sure the bidding process is done in a correct and transparent way,” he said.
Regarding the 2018 World Cup, he said: “Russia is ready to welcome and host everyone. It would be a great event. I would ask everyone to come to Russia and join us in the event.”