FIFA leaders unite behind Infantino after collapse of World Cup rights plan

FIFA has apologised to its 211 member associations over the handling of a failed plan to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial rights company, while its senior leadership publicly reaffirmed support for president Gianni Infantino.

The proposal, which was expected to raise about $4.2bn from private investors, was abandoned last Friday after provoking intense criticism from football organisations and figures inside FIFA.

Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, faced the strongest backlash and questions were raised about whether he could be re-elected at next March’s presidential vote.

Following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, FIFA said its management board and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom had “reaffirmed their full support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino”.

The statement added: “In turn, the Fifa president reiterated his full support for the Fifa secretary general and the Fifa administration for their necessary and outstanding work in the delivery of his vision.”

FIFA also said it had sent a separate letter to members of its council and all member associations to apologise for mistakes made during the process. It promised a review of how the proposal had been developed and presented.

“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 said.

The project involved selling a 20% holding in a new commercial rights entity to private investors. Its withdrawal followed a fierce reaction, partly because of the involvement of a company with family links to US president Donald Trump.

Grafstrom told FIFA employees in an internal memo this week that a “sad and reproachable series of events” had led to the project being “permanently abandoned”, according to two sources cited by Reuters.

Although Grafstrom did not name Infantino, he wrote that “individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go”, while FIFA’s work would continue.

His comments followed criticism from FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who said last week that staff had been “deceived” by a project he described as the work of one person.

In its statement on Wednesday, FIFA stressed that Infantino was “the only official elected by the 211 Fifa member associations”.

It also said that, with the commercial proposal now withdrawn, it would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process”.

International criticism

The abandoned plan has damaged Infantino’s relationship with several football bodies. UEFA said it had lost confidence in his leadership, while CONCACAF, which oversees football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, adopted the same position.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) was also highly critical, arguing that the proposal had been presented as a fait accompli without proper consultation.

A number of European federations have withdrawn their support for the 56-year-old Swiss Italian. Former Portugal captain Luis Figo, who intended to challenge for the FIFA presidency in 2015, said Infantino should resign.

UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister told Reuters the controversy had pushed Infantino’s leadership into a crisis.

European Leagues, which represents more than 1,300 clubs across Europe, said FIFA must not be allowed to “continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions” affecting clubs, players and supporters.

The organisation also criticised FIFA’s “impractically short assessment timeline” of four weeks to consider a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.

A FIFA Extraordinary Congress could be convened if at least 43 member associations submit a formal written request.

Support remains

Infantino continues to have significant backing, particularly among associations in poorer parts of the world that depend on FIFA funding to operate.

Leading African football administrators have sent messages of support as the FIFA president seeks backing from the continent’s 54 members. The African confederation, CAF, has not yet stated its position.

The executive committee of Oceania’s regional confederation, the smallest and least wealthy of FIFA’s six confederations, is due to meet next Wednesday to discuss its response.

Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, along with Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines, have all expressed loyalty to Infantino despite the AFC’s criticism.

Under FIFA rules, San Marino’s vote carries the same weight as those of World Cup winners Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain. San Marino’s men’s team are ranked 211th and last in the world rankings.

Infantino’s position is also strengthened by the absence of an obvious rival for the March election. He is seeking to extend his presidency until 2031.

Morocco was among the first associations to support him after the commercial proposal was withdrawn. The country will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain and hopes to stage the final.

A FIFA spokesperson rejected a report claiming Infantino had promised Morocco the final in return for its support.

“It is false and misleading to claim the Fifa president has made any promise in relation to hosting the Fifa World Cup 2030 final,” the spokesperson said.

“A decision will be made by FIFA in due course.”