FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defied a request from one of his vice presidents to stay away from an Under-14 soccer tournament in the Dominican Republic this weekend. Despite the plea, Infantino made a rare public appearance in the Caribbean.
The request came from CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, who urged the FIFA chief to abstain from the event. Montagliani stated that Infantino's presence would overshadow the youth tournament as the FIFA president faces mounting opposition to his leadership.
Pressure on the embattled leader has increased following a failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. This ongoing opposition led CONCACAF to reportedly ask the president to skip the competition.