FIFA Faces Turbulence over Infantino’s Controversial Plans

FIFA issued an apology on Wednesday for errors relating to Gianni Infantino’s unsuccessful initiative to sell stakes in the World Cup. During a crisis meeting in Morocco, senior staff expressed renewed support for his leadership. Amid the uproar over Infantino’s plans, which have led to calls for his resignation, FIFA has strived to present a cohesive front.

According to FIFA, Secretary General Mattias Grafström and management board members at the meeting in Rabat pledged their backing for the embattled president. The contentious plan involved selling World Cup profits through a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The statement highlighted that “mistakes made were acknowledged” and indicated a need for a different approach.

A letter of apology was dispatched to the FIFA Council and member associations, promising to prevent future errors. Despite Grafström’s previous email to FIFA staff expressing dismay at the events, he signaled his support for Infantino.

FIFA confirmed that the FFE proposal is “now off the table.” They expressed dedication to refining processes based on this experience.

There are always lessons to be learned, and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience, a statement added.

It’s unclear if the meeting will alleviate pressure on Infantino. Earlier, European soccer leagues, including the Premier League and La Liga, demanded FIFA governance reform. They described the FFE proposal as “dangerous” and called for better decision-making processes.

European Leagues criticized the potential World Cup expansion to 64 teams and opposed disruptive decisions. Their statement urged reform before approving new or expanded FIFA competitions.

Famous footballer Luis Figo added his voice, urging Infantino to resign, stating his actions “debased the office.”

FIFA dismissed a British media report suggesting Infantino promised Morocco the hosting of the 2030 World Cup final. The FIFA spokesperson clarified that such claims are “false and misleading.” Hosting decisions will be announced later by FIFA.

On the same day, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his loss of confidence in Infantino, citing governance failures. Carney, previously seen with Infantino during the 2026 World Cup events in North America, criticized the lack of consultation with senior advisers.

As FIFA approaches its March elections, a tumultuous week has cast doubt on Infantino’s presidency. UEFA exerted significant pressure by threatening a World Cup boycott if Infantino pursued FFE.

Although Infantino backtracked, UEFA maintains diminishing trust in FIFA’s leadership, which could challenge his presidency. CONCACAF also expressed concerns about FIFA’s priorities. Internal divisions surfaced as Arsène Wenger and others distanced themselves from the FFE plans. Some key figures in FIFA resigned, citing deception regarding Infantino’s lack of transparency.