Infantino has faced increasing scrutiny since a proposal to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, fell apart.
Eto'o urges support for FIFA president Infantino
Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o has backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, insisting he "hasn't done anything wrong" despite mounting pressure on him to step down following the collapse of a controversial World Cup investment plan.
UEFA, European football's governing body, has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, while several continental and national federations have also withdrawn their support for Infantino.
However, Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian football federation, dismissed the criticism surrounding Infantino's leadership and suggested the backlash was largely driven by political manoeuvring ahead of next year's FIFA presidential election.
"I don't think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong," the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker told CNN.
"I think the timing of all of that is because there's an election coming out."
Infantino's proposal, which would reportedly have provided substantial funding to FIFA's 211 member associations, met strong opposition from several confederations before ultimately being abandoned.
The FIFA president remains under significant pressure, with the possibility of a no-confidence vote being triggered. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF -- which governs North and Central America and the Caribbean -- have all raised concerns over FIFA's direction in recent weeks.
However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) earlier this month "unanimously reconfirmed its support" for Infantino, with Eto'o's backing reflecting that position.
"President Gianni Infantino has changed football," said Eto'o, urging fellow African countries to support the Swiss official.
"He's given opportunities to nations that didn't have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions.
"He has helped our continent. He's helped our federations to develop much more quickly, and we need to acknowledge that. We need to accept and recognise what he's done, and we should support him for everything he's done up to now."
