BUDAPEST, Hungary — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has urged European soccer leaders to give money to poorer federations from the increased funds they get from Zurich.
"Give it to other federations around the world if you don’t need the money," Infantino told the 54 UEFA member federations at their annual congress.
All FIFA members should get big increases in their annual grant to fulfil a key election promise by Infantino.
The FIFA president was elected in February after promising to give each member federation $5 million every four years from World Cup revenues. That pledge would more than double the $2.05 million that each FIFA member received in the four-year cycle tied to the 2014 World Cup.
European federations earn much more than other countries as UEFA, the richest of the six continental confederations, pays even more to its members than they get from FIFA.
"You in Europe, we can show together, we can make a difference in the world," said Infantino, who served UEFA members as general secretary for seven years. "With very little we can achieve a lot."
Infantino noted that FIFA could add two European federations to its membership at its own congress in Mexico City next week. The admission of Kosovo and Gibraltar would likely be added to the world soccer body’s agenda, Infantino said.
UEFA members were expected to vote Tuesday on accepting Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered FIFA to stop blocking Gibraltar’s application for membership and allow it "without delay."
Gibraltar, a British territory whose sovereignty is disputed by neighbouring Spain, has been a UEFA member since 2013 and played in the qualifying program for the 2016 European Championship.
Both Kosovo and Gibraltar could be fast-tracked by FIFA into 2018 World Cup qualifying groups, which kick off in September.
UEFA met without its president, Michel Platini, who should get a verdict next Monday from CAS in his appeal against a six-year ban by FIFA. Platini and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter were sanctioned over a $2 million payment the former France great got in 2011 as uncontracted and backdated salary.
Infantino said it had been "an honour" to work with Platini.
UEFA has called an emergency meeting of its executive committee in two weeks to weigh options after the Platini verdict, UEFA and FIFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar told the congress.
The meeting will be in Basel, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the Europa League final on May 18.
If a presidential election is needed to replace Platini, the most likely date is mid-September in Athens, Greece, at an already-scheduled meeting of European soccer leaders.