India, Aug. 11 -- US President Donald Trump has jumped to the defence of his close ally and embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning the world football governing body against replacing him and calling any such move a "terrible mistake".

Infantino has come under immense pressure after his controversial plan to sell a stake in the commercial arm of the men's World Cup to private investors collapsed amid opposition from three confederations.

The proposal centred on the creation of Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company that would oversee the commercial and operational aspects of FIFA's tournaments. The plan included the possibility of selling around 20% of the company to private investors.

The controversy eventually led to cal...