Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, is reportedly planning to attend a U14 Boys Challenge tournament in the Dominican Republic this weekend, in what can only be described as a desperate attempt to split the coalition seeking his ouster. The tournament, organized by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), may seem like an odd venue for a power play, but when you're clinging to the top job in world football, every little kickabout counts.

The Guardian has learned that Infantino intends to show up despite senior figures within Concacaf - the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football - urging him to stay away. Concacaf, along with Uefa, is working to remove him from office. If Infantino follows through, he'll come face-to-face with his most credible challenger, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, who will presumably be on hand to watch the kids play and perhaps exchange pleasantries with his rival.

The Dominican Republic, whose FA invited Infantino before the World Cup sell-off plan emerged, has since backed the joint Uefa, Concacaf, and Asian Football Confederation statement calling for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, as well as an emergency meeting of the FIFA council. So Infantino's visit is a bit like crashing a party where everyone's talking about how much they dislike you.

Infantino has been spending time in Morocco and Qatar, relying on his most steadfast allies, but he apparently views the CFU meetings as a golden opportunity to split the Concacaf block and lobby for votes from the region's smaller nations before next March's presidential election. Because nothing says 'I'm a serious leader' like schmoozing at a youth tournament.

Concacaf's most successful nation, Mexico, is defying the confederation by backing Infantino, who has also received support from two CFU members, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis. Panama has reportedly given him a private endorsement, though it hasn't publicly confirmed its position. We're sure that's just a coincidence.

Infantino's plan to attend has raised eyebrows, mainly because the Boys Challenge and CFU meetings are not FIFA events. FIFA declined to comment on the president's movements, which is always a good sign.

Meanwhile, Uefa, Concacaf, and the AFC are continuing to explore calling for a vote of no confidence in Infantino. Under FIFA's statutes, its council can convene an extraordinary congress if 43 of FIFA's 211 member associations submit a written request. An extraordinary congress must be convened within three months, though the statutes contain no specific provision regarding a vote of no confidence in the president. So, theoretically, they could vote on whether to have a vote, and then vote again. It's all very procedural.

Infantino came under renewed pressure on Thursday with worldwide fans' groups launching a petition calling for his resignation. The petition already has support from all six FIFA confederations, spanning continental and national fan groups. The statement from the fan organisations reads: "The shameful attempt by one individual - the Fifa president himself - to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget. Infantino's plan was stitched together in secret. Negotiated behind closed doors. Hidden from Fifa's own members and from the millions of people whose passion makes football what it is."

It continues: "A president who repeatedly betrays football and makes a mockery of our game has lost the right to lead it. For the credibility of Fifa - and for the future of the game - he must resign."

But hey, at least he's supporting youth football. That counts for something, right?