Infantino hails "strong" FIFA as focus shifts to Asia

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Preliminary Draw - Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland - December 7, 2020 FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the draw FIFA/Kurt Schorrer/Handout via REUTERS

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Gianni Infantino claimed the changes made since he replaced Sepp Blatter at the helm of football's governing body have allowed FIFA to provide significant assistance to embattled member associations since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing the Asian Football Confederation's online congress, Infantino said the provision of $1.5 billion for members via the COVID-19 Relief Plan was "unprecedented" and that such measures could not have been taken previously.