FIFA President Infantino Travels to Caribbean as Jamaica FA Chief Voices Support Amid Backlash

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is touring the Caribbean to rebuild trust with national federations after the backlash over his commercial proposals, and he has already picked up public backing from Jamaica Football Federation president Michael Ricketts.

Infantino landed in Jamaica as the first stop on a four-nation trip, arriving with an eight-person FIFA delegation that includes Gelson Fernandez, the newly appointed official who oversees Africa and the Caribbean. He went straight to the National Stadium to watch Jamaica play Guatemala. The tour comes after FIFA dropped its FIFA Forward Enterprise plan following widespread criticism.

Ricketts, who confirmed the details to The Gleaner, admitted the plan was poorly handled but said he still believes it was meant to help smaller nations.

"He's actually visiting, I think, four Caribbean countries, he will arrive here at 4 p.m. today with a FIFA delegation of eight in total," Ricketts said. "The process, was not very transparent, hence he got push back from a number of countries but I think it was intended to help small countries. So I have forgiven him, and I'm never ever going to be ungrateful."

Besides Jamaica, the delegation will visit the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua.

Ricketts also spoke about the tension between Infantino and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, calling it unfortunate given how much both men have done for football in the region. Even so, he made clear where he stands.

"I am a fan of Infantino. I'm also a fan of Montagliani, but I am going to stand up, raise my hand in support of Infantino, and just hope that when elections come around, he is returned as FIFA president," he said.

Infantino and his delegation are due to leave Jamaica on Saturday morning. The stop gives him a useful endorsement as he gears up for his re-election bid, even with several international bodies having called for him to step down.