World Soccer - UK (2022-01)

CouldtheCONCACAFpresidentbeafutureheadofFIFA?

VICTOR MONTAGLIANI

heweightofthepandemic-
promptedcrisisinworldfootball
andthe headline-bustingfuss
overaWorldCupeverytwoyearshas
overshadowedan intriguingdevelopment
withinthecorridorsofpower:therise
andriseofVictorMontagliani.
The 56 -year-oldCanadianisthe
presidentwhohashadtorebuildscandal-
shatteredCONCACAFandhas become,
alongthe way, oneofthe most trusted
alliesofFIFA presidentGianni Infantino.
Thisisnosurprise.Montagliani’s family
camefromItaly, likeInfantino.Hisfather
wasan Internazionalefan,like Infantino.
Hewas an enthusiasticamateurplayer,
likeInfantino. NowMontagliani’s status
asa FIFAvice-presidentmakeshima
keymemberofInfantino’s innercircle.
TheFIFA Bureauischairedby
Infantino,andcomprisesthepresidents
ofthe sixregionalconfederations.Thisis
whereworldfootball’s day-to-day power
nowresides;FIFA Councilhasbeenlargely
reducedtothe bureau’s rubberstamp.
Montagliani’s journey to thetop of
football’s powertablesbeganin 2005
whenhebecamepresidentofthe British
ColumbiaSoccerAssociation.Herehe
establisheda reputationashisownman
bysupportinglocalSikhplayerswho had
beenbarredbylocalofficialsfromwearing
a patka (sportsoptionforaturban).
In 2012 hesteppedup as president
ofthe Canadian SoccerAssociation.He
chairedthelocalorganisingcommittees
forCanada’shostingoftheWomen’s
Under-20WorldCupin 2 01 4 andthe
seniorWomen’s WorldCupin 2 01 5.
Thatwas when he firstproposeda
bidfor the 2026 Men’s WorldCup.
Hecontinuedto raisehisown profileas
a memberoftheFIFAreform commission
headedbySwisslawyerFrancoisCarrard.
A fellowmemberwasInfantino.
Duringthistime,CONCACAFvirtually
collapsed.JackWarnerhadrun forcover

in 20 11,before successorsJeffWebband

AlfredoHawitwereclaimedbytheUS

JusticeDepartment’sFIFA-Gate inquiry.

After seeingoff Bermuda’sLarry

Mussenden 25 -16in thefinalvoting,

Montaglianiacknowledgedthat

resurrectingandcleaningupCONCACAF

wouldbe“alongroad,” buthewasted

notimesettingoutonthatjourney.

CONCACAFsigneda newmarketing

partnershipwithSoccer UnitedMarketing,

thecommercialarmof MLS, and

expandedits clubcompetitions,while

Montaglianialsokicked offwhatevolved

intothejoint-bidbyCanada,Mexicoand

theUS to hostthe 2026 WorldCup.

In 2017 Montaglianichairedthe

footballstakeholderscommission,which

acquireda crucialroleinmanagingthe

worldwidegame’srecoveryfromthe

COVID- 19 pandemic. Then, as football

staggeredbackintoaction,Montagliani

stooddutifullybehindInfantinoin

opposingthe SuperLeague.

NotthatMontaglianiisanInfantino

puppet:on theproposalsfora WorldCup

every twoyearshehas satonthe fence.

TheCanadiansaidhehadan “openmind”

anda CONCACAFstatementadded:“Now

isnotthetimetosowfear.”Insteadhis

focus hasbeenonleading thetechnical

inspectionsofthe 2026 venuecities.

Onwardand upward.Montaglianiisa

truesonofVancouver with itscitymotto:

BySea LandandAir We Prosper.

KeirRadnedge

HeadofCONCACAF...

Montaglianialongside

theCONCACAF

Champions League

trophyahead of the

finalinOctober

T

A D M I

N I S T R

A T O R

P E O PL EO FT H EYE A R

OYVINDALAPNES

Theprotest andboycott

threatsagainsttheQatar

World Cup,followingThe

Guardian’s reporton

thenumberof deaths

instadium construction,

havebeenspearheaded

bythe TromsoCEO.

MARINAGRANOVSKAIA

Asdirector of Chelsea,

theRussianoversaw

ChampionsLeaguefinals

forboththemenand

women’steams,plus

a WSLtitle,whilealso

bringingin over £ 13 0m

intransferfees.

H O N OU R A BL EM EN T I ON S

NASSERALKHELAIFI

Theill-fatedSuper League

planswereundoubtedly

harmedbyPSG’srefusalto

takepart.Theirchairman’s

reward wastobecome

chairofthe European

ClubAssociation,witha

seatontheUEFAexco.