FIFA leadership backs Gianni Infantino and apologises over shelved World Cup privatisation plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino received “full support” from senior directors on Wednesday while the governing body apologised for the controversy surrounding its now-shelved proposal to open the World Cup to private investment, following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco.
The proposal, presented as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), had envisaged a new commercial subsidiary valued at $20 billion and potentially raising up to $4.2 billion. FIFA said the plan could have delivered a one-off payment of $20 million to each of its 211 member associations in early 2027 and raised member funding for the 2027–2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million. The leaked proposal produced a furious backlash, including threats of a boycott from UEFA, and Infantino withdrew the plan last Saturday.
After Wednesday’s meeting in Rabat, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance issued a statement that they “reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations”. The statement said the meeting “addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, where mistakes made were acknowledged” and that “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 added that “errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media” and that an apology had been sent to the FIFA Council and member associations.
One attendee believed to have been at the meeting was secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday. Infantino responded in public at the meeting with the comment, “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve.” The article noted Infantino’s presence in Morocco last week for the Feast of the Enthronement.
Infantino was also photographed attending the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Malawi in Rabat, where he was seen at the entrance to Al Medina Stadium alongside the president of the Moroccan football federation, an AFP photographer observed. Morocco, which is to co-host the 2030 World Cup, has a national federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa, who publicly supported Infantino; Lekjaa praised his “wise” decision to scrap the plan and reiterated his backing for Infantino for “all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football” during his 10 years in charge.
The proposal prompted strong criticism from major confederations and public figures. UEFA called the plan a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” hatched by Infantino and said “The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.” CONCACAF demanded “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency” and criticised what it described as Infantino’s “poor governance and leadership.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he no longer had confidence in Infantino’s ability to lead FIFA.
FIFA confirmed that the FFE proposal is off the table and said a review will be conducted, with a report to be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.
