Fifa president Infantino faces executives amid criticism over scrapped commercial plan
Fifa president Gianni Infantino is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of football’s world governing body in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday. This meeting comes as criticism intensifies regarding his recently abandoned proposal to sell off Fifa‘s commercial and event operations.
The gathering follows a highly critical internal memo sent to Fifa staff by secretary general Mattias Grafstrom. Additionally, Arsene Wenger, chief of global football development, stated he was “not involved” in Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, adding that aborting it was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”
Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, has accused Fifa of creating a situation that “amounts to blackmail” concerning unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election. These claims have not been verified, and Fifa has not commented. However, Prince Ali‘s statement indicates strong feelings among member associations opposing Infantino.
Uefa recently expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, and several member associations, including Wales, have withdrawn support for his re-election. England is reportedly set to follow.
Meeting in Rabat
The meeting is understood to be taking place at Fifa‘s Africa office in Rabat. Attendees are expected to include Mattias Grafstrom and members of the Fifa management board, such as finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson.
The specific intention of the meeting is unclear, but it is anticipated that Infantino will attempt to build bridges to secure his position as president. However, this may prove challenging.
In his letter to Fifa staff, Mattias Grafstrom described recent events as “a sad and reproachable series of events” that were “difficult to comprehend and accept.” Kevin Lamour, Fifa‘s chief operating officer, stated that the private investment plan was “the project of one person” and that Fifa‘s own administration was “deceived.”
Infantino may need to demonstrate contrition and potentially propose a path to reform to regain the support of his inner circle.
Key Questions and Criticisms
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the plan, calling it “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.” Member associations had been given a deadline of 19 September to approve the plan or risk missing out on additional funding.
In his resignation announcement, Carlos Cordeiro posed several questions that Infantino is likely to face at the meeting. He highlighted the absence of answers to fundamental questions regarding the deal’s rationale, oversight, beneficiaries, and competitive process, stating that such questions remain largely unanswered despite member associations being asked to make a significant decision within 50 days.
Beyond these questions, Infantino might also need to outline a route for reform, potentially involving additional checks and balances to prevent similar proposals from being devised and presented in the future. Suggestions include shelving plans for a 64-team World Cup or opening up Fifa‘s cash reserves.
Soccer legend Luis Figo has publicly called for Infantino’s departure, describing his conduct as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour.” Figo argued that the individual attempting to force through such major changes to enrich himself and his associates should not be part of football’s future.
Figo further stated that Infantino “has debased the office of Fifa President that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.” While Fifa previously stated that money from the plan would be reinvested into the sport, Figo maintained it was “not a good idea” due to a lack of transparency regarding returns and the permanent sale of ownership in the World Cup.
Potential Outcomes
It appears unlikely that Infantino will resign by the end of Wednesday, as he has shown no indication of relinquishing his position and has been rallying support globally. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo have issued statements in his support.
However, Infantino will face serious questions regarding a controversial week for Fifa. Some attendees may question his ability to recover from the fierce criticism, particularly from European nations. While resignation is a possibility, Infantino might view this as the beginning of a fightback, potentially issuing a statement that includes an apology and a promise of change.
If Infantino chooses to continue, Uefa and other confederations may explore alternative methods to remove him. One option is for the Fifa Council to force an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of the 37 members to call for it. Doubts exist, however, about achieving the necessary 19 votes.
Another avenue is an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations, which could be triggered if one-fifth, or 43 associations, make a written request. Uefa, with 55 nations, could initiate this process at any time. This would take a minimum of two months, or more likely three months, and does not guarantee success. It would function as a de facto election, requiring 106 votes for a vote of no confidence, giving Infantino time to regain support.
The deadline to announce candidacy for the Fifa Congress in March is 18 November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered the most likely unity candidate to challenge Infantino, who ran unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Inside Fifa, the expectation is that Infantino called the Rabat meeting to clear the air, demonstrate unity, and achieve alignment with his senior staff. However, the response from those present remains uncertain, especially given the critical statements from Arsene Wenger, Mattias Grafstrom, and Kevin Lamour.
Infantino’s choice of Morocco for the meeting is notable, as the country is hosting the next World Cup and its national football association has publicly supported him. He hopes to be re-elected for a fourth term at next year’s Congress.
The Uefa-led opposition hopes that Infantino will be forced to resign before then. Luis Figo, who won four La Liga titles, a Champions League trophy, and the Ballon d’Or, called Infantino’s conduct “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.”
The soccer world has been in turmoil over the past week following Infantino’s proposal to establish a separate entity with private investors to control the commercial and operational rights of the World Cup. This proposal faced widespread criticism from fans and governing bodies, including Uefa, which stated that the “soul and governance of football are not assets to trade,” leading Infantino to withdraw the plan.
Not all bodies opposed the plan; while governing bodies representing Europe, Asia, and North and Central America criticised it, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not taken a stance. Five significant African football administrators have expressed support for Infantino.
Infantino’s situation marks a reversal from weeks ago when he was overseeing the World Cup and reportedly had pledged letters of support for his re-election bid from approximately 200 of the 211 member federations.
The meeting in Rabat is set to take place on Wednesday.
Source: bbc.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
