FIFA acknowledges errors in the management of his plan to open up commercial rights of its competitions to private capital. Following a crisis meeting held Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, the leadership of the international governing body apologized to its 211 member federations, while reaffirming its "full support" for Gianni Infantino. The FIFA president therefore remains in office despite the criticism provoked by this now-abandoned project.
A crisis meeting in Rabat
Gianni Infantino, Secretary General Mattias Grafström, and several members of FIFA's Executive Committee met in Morocco to try to resolve a crisis that has been shaking the organization for several days. Discussions focused on FIFA's internal operations, communication among its leaders, and how the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was prepared and then presented. The Executive Committee admitted that the FIFA Council and national federations may have felt excluded. It also acknowledged that the process should have been conducted differently and that mistakes were made after the project was leaked to the media. In a separate letter addressed to the Council and member associations, FIFA offered its apologies. "Apologies have been offered for these mistakes, along with a commitment to ensure they do not happen again."the organization specifies.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise project has been definitively abandoned.
The controversial plan involved creating a new company called FIFA Forward Enterprise. This entity was intended to consolidate FIFA's main commercial and operational activities, including broadcasting rights, sponsorship, licensing, ticketing, hospitality, and the organization of its competitions. FIFA planned to open up to 20% of the company's capital to private investors. The operation could have generated approximately $4,2 billion. It was intended to increase the funds distributed to the 211 national federations, raising their funding to $20 million each for the 2027-2030 cycle, with the possibility of obtaining an additional $20 million for certain projects. The plan immediately provoked strong opposition. Several world football governing bodies denounced the lack of consultation, the absence of guarantees regarding the investors' identities, and the risk of FIFA competitions, particularly the World Cup, being transformed into financial products. Faced with the protests, Gianni Infantino finally announced the withdrawal of the project on Friday, July 31. FIFA now confirms that FIFA Forward Enterprise is definitively abandoned and that no capital increase will be submitted to a vote by the federations.
Errors acknowledged, but no offense admitted.
FIFA acknowledges flaws in the methodology but rejects any accusation of violating its regulations. The organization maintains that all steps taken regarding the project complied with its legal and regulatory framework. "Although mistakes were made, everything that was done was done in strict compliance with FIFA's regulatory framework."The statement confirms this. The management nevertheless announces the launch of an internal review. A report will be submitted to the FIFA Council at its next meeting to determine how to improve procedures, consultations, and the flow of information between the presidency, the administration, and the member federations.
The leadership is rallying around Gianni Infantino
Despite the apologies and the abandonment of the project, FIFA's leadership is not questioning Gianni Infantino's position. On the contrary, the officials present in Rabat reaffirmed their confidence in him. "The FIFA Secretary General and the members of the Executive Committee present reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the sole leader elected by the 211 member associations."The organization stated that Gianni Infantino, for his part, reaffirmed his support for Mattias Grafström and the FIFA administration. The statement emphasized the need for the presidency, the general secretariat, and the organization's staff to speak with one voice.
A challenge that weakens the FIFA president
This internal support hasn't silenced the criticism. Several European federations have withdrawn their support for Gianni Infantino ahead of the next FIFA presidential election, scheduled for March 2027. UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation denounced the way the project was presented, without any real prior consultation. Internal officials also distanced themselves from it. FIFA's Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, stated that several colleagues had been misled and described FIFA Forward Enterprise as a one-man project. Despite this opposition, no candidate has yet declared their intention to challenge Gianni Infantino. Elected head of FIFA in 2016, the Italian-Swiss leader retains considerable support, particularly among African, Asian, and Middle Eastern federations.
FIFA is now threatening to defend its reputation
Having acknowledged its mistakes, the organization is also taking a tougher stance against its critics. It states that it will no longer tolerate attacks on its integrity, governance, or procedures and that it will take all necessary measures to protect its name and reputation. FIFA now promises to work with federations and confederations to find other ways to increase funding for football development. The plan to open the organization to private investors is dead, but Gianni Infantino remains firmly supported by his leadership.
