FIFA president Gianni Infantino is set to stay in his role following a crisis meeting held in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday. The gathering brought together senior executives of world football's governing body, including Secretary General Mattias Grafström, to address the fallout from the now-abandoned private investment scheme that had triggered widespread condemnation across the sport.
The proposal, which would have allowed third parties to take minority, non-controlling stakes in a new commercial arm dubbed the "FIFA Forward Enterprise" (FFE), was shelved last week after fierce opposition from national associations, UEFA, and prominent figures in the game. The plan had been projected to raise up to $4.2 billion based on an initial equity valuation of $20 billion.
Despite the controversy, FIFA issued a statement late Wednesday confirming that Infantino retains the "full support" of Grafström and the FIFA management board. The statement acknowledged that "mistakes" were made regarding the FFE, particularly in the way the proposal was communicated and handled.
"It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently," the statement read. "It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media."
FIFA also said it had sent a letter to its member associations apologising for the "errors" and committing to ensure they do not recur. The governing body reaffirmed that the FFE plan had been permanently shelved and warned that it would "no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation."
Pressure mounts on Infantino
The statement comes as calls for Infantino's resignation grow louder. Earlier on Wednesday, Portuguese football legend Luis Figo delivered a scathing critique of the FIFA president, accusing him of having "debased the office that he promised to elevate." In a social media post, Figo wrote: "He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve. It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now."
UEFA, European football's governing body, has been particularly vocal in its criticism. It had threatened to boycott FIFA events over the investment proposal and stated that "the current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family."
Several national associations, including Wales, Serbia, and Sweden, have already withdrawn their backing for Infantino's re-election bid. Wales was the first to do so, setting a precedent that others followed. Political figures have also weighed in, with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian PM Mark Carney expressing their lack of confidence in Infantino. "I don't have confidence in Mr. Infantino after this point," Carney said on Wednesday.
The controversy adds to a turbulent period for Infantino, who has faced scrutiny over FIFA's handling of incidents at the 2026 World Cup, held across the US, Canada, and Mexico, as well as his close relationship with US President Donald Trump. Prince Ali of Jordan has also accused Infantino of blackmail, further deepening the leadership crisis.
Meanwhile, a report from The Times of London alleged that Infantino had promised Morocco the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for political support. FIFA has dismissed the claim as "false and misleading," insisting that a decision on the host will be made "in due course."
Despite the mounting opposition, Infantino appears determined to hold on to power. The crisis meeting in Rabat, which took place against the backdrop of Spain's ongoing border tensions with Morocco, ended with a show of unity from FIFA's top brass. Whether that will be enough to quell the rebellion within the football community remains to be seen.
