After the collapse of the FFE, Infantino’s first statements included some criticism from those who opposed him.
Recently, he seemed more conciliatory, perhaps knowing that this approach could be more effective in winning the war.
“When you travel, sometimes there are worries,” he said at the Cape Verde conference.
“When they grow up, we have to address them. As for FIFA, we always address them with a spirit of dialogue and open arms, an open heart and an open mind. We can always be better and do better.”
If Infantino stays, as expected, UEFA wants to reform FIFA governance.
But UEFA may face problems here as well.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the Asian confederation and the vice president of FIFA, sitting on the Council, criticized Infantino.
But in a letter to Cefer, Montagliani and Infantino this week, Al Khalifa distanced himself from the “wholesale of FIFA’s management system”.
Al-Khalifa said the change “must be managed by football bodies rather than outsourced”.
This makes it less likely that UEFA will get what they want again.
UEFA also wants each country to be paid $10m (£7.6m) on top of FIFA’s massive $6bn (£4.5bn) reserves.
Dangerously, Infantino’s submission to this demand is likely to further strengthen his position.
After all, money wins votes for the FIFA president.