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DFB will back Gianni Infantino

January 19, 2016

Gianni Infantino will have the DFB's support as he runs as UEFA's representative for FIFA president. The FIFA general secretary is one of five candidates hoping to succeed current president Sepp Blatter.

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UEFA FIFA Kandidat Gianni Infantino
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/L. Gillieron

The German Football Federation (DFB) announced Tuesday they will back Gianni Infantino in his bid to become the next president of FIFA after conferring in Frankfurt on Thursday.

"Gianni Infantino is the candidate for Europe and the best candidate, in that I am in agreement with (fellow interim-president) Rainer Koch and the whole council," said DFB interim president Reinhard Rauball.
"Through his work as secretary general of UEFA, he knows every face of football, is admired internationally and speaks six languages," Rauball added. "With his reputation and experience he brings the necessary qualifications to make the required structural changes and meet the challenges ahead."
Reinhard Rauball und Rainer Koch
Reinhard Rauball and the DFB hope Infantino's knowledge of FIFA makes him the governing body's next president.Image: picture-alliance/dpa/U. Anspach
Infantino announced his intention to run for FIFA president after current UEFA president Michel Platini was banned from the organization in October. He launched his manifesto for the election campaign on Tuesday, which included promises to expand the World Cup to 40 teams, provide more money to national associations and the confederations and clean up the scandal-hit FIFA.

Infantino will contest the leadership bid alongside Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Tokyo Sexwale, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and Jerome Champagne. The vote will take place during FIFA's extraordinary congress in Zurich on February 26.

sb/dv (AP, AFP)