FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a public appearance at a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) youth tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Saturday. This visit occurred despite a request from Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president and a FIFA vice president, asking Infantino to reconsider his attendance.

Montagliani had expressed concerns that Infantino's presence would distract from the Under-14 football event due to the ongoing global scrutiny of FIFA's governance. The controversy stems from Infantino's now-withdrawn plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

In an email seen by The Associated Press, Montagliani stated that media attention on the governance crisis would "significantly take away from the technical nature of the CFU youth competition." He respectfully asked Infantino to step away "in the name of football" to avoid undermining the event.

Infantino, however, posted photos on his Instagram account showing him meeting with political and football officials from the Dominican Republic on the sidelines of the tournament. FIFA declined to comment on Montagliani's request, but highlighted its funding of regional bodies like the CFU.

The situation is part of a broader internal conflict within FIFA. Montagliani, along with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, has reportedly sought to challenge Infantino's leadership. These figures have publicly accused Infantino of "deception" regarding the proposal to spin off FIFA's commercial activities.

The controversial plan, which involved creating a subsidiary partly owned by investors including Joshua Kushner, faced significant backlash from football leaders and fans. Infantino withdrew the proposal on August 1, shortly after his chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, publicly criticized the plan and Infantino's leadership style. Lamour was subsequently fired.

Caribbean member federations are considered potential supporters within FIFA's structure. Infantino's decision to attend the CFU event could be seen as an effort to engage with these federations amidst the internal power struggles and the fallout from the failed commercialization plan.

The incident underscores the continuing governance challenges facing FIFA and its president. The failed investor deal and the subsequent internal dissent highlight the delicate balance of power and influence within the global football governing body.