Khaberni - The Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, agreed to grant the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, Lebanese citizenship.
Lebanese media reported that this step carries a symbolic dimension reflecting the Lebanese state's appreciation for the role played by the FIFA President in supporting and developing Lebanese football over the past years.
The decision was made during a meeting attended by the President of the Lebanese Football Association, Hashem Haidar, and the Secretary General Jihad Al-Shahf, along with Gianni Infantino’s wife, Lina Al-Ashkar, where the President emphasized the strong relationship between Lebanon and the International Federation which has yielded developmental projects that have enhanced the local sports infrastructure.
The President requested Infantino to complete the necessary legal documents in preparation for signing the decree granting him citizenship definitively, with the process to be completed according to the constitutional mechanisms in place. The President also promised to secure a plot of land for the Lebanese Football Association to build a training stadium and a modern headquarters, contributing to the development of infrastructure and supporting the long-term trajectory of the game, reaffirming the state’s commitment to providing all necessary facilitations to complete the project.
The decision has a personal aspect for the President of the International Football Federation, as his wife Lina Al-Ashkar is Lebanese, which added a family dimension that enhanced its symbolism.
During the meeting, Infantino presented a 2026 World Cup ball bearing President Joseph Aoun’s name, in addition to commemorative gifts from the International Federation in appreciation for the close relationship between the two sides.
