Infantino Holds Crisis Talks As FIFA Leadership Faces Growing Backlash

FIFA president Gianni Infantino convened an emergency meeting with senior officials in Morocco on Wednesday as pressure mounted over his abandoned proposal to allow private investment in the FIFA World Cup, according to AFP.

The meeting came just days after Infantino withdrew the controversial plan, which had triggered widespread criticism from football governing bodies and intensified calls for his resignation.

AFP reported that FIFA secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom was among those believed to have attended the meeting. Grafstrom has been at the centre of the controversy after an internal email in which he criticised the proposal was leaked earlier this week.

Infantino, 56, held the discussions at FIFA’s African regional office in Sale, near Rabat, while in Morocco for last week’s Feast of the Enthronement celebrations.

Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, has remained one of the few countries to publicly support the FIFA president. Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa defended Infantino after he abandoned the proposal, describing the decision as “wise” and taken in the interest of “unity and cohesion.”

Lekjaa also reaffirmed his backing for Infantino, praising his leadership and “all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football” during his decade in office.

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Infantino had appeared to be in a strong position following the successful staging of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with expectations that he would secure a fourth and final term unopposed at FIFA’s elective congress in Rabat next March.

However, his position came under intense scrutiny after FIFA unveiled plans to establish a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to oversee competitions including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

Under the proposal, FIFA projected it could generate up to $4.2 billion from private investment based on a $20 billion valuation of the new entity.

The governing body also proposed using part of the proceeds to provide each of its 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in 2027 while increasing their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

Instead of winning support, the proposal sparked fierce opposition, particularly from UEFA, which reportedly considered boycotting future FIFA competitions before Infantino announced on Saturday that the plan had been scrapped.

“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” Infantino said while announcing the withdrawal.

UEFA, however, maintained its criticism, describing the proposal as “a shabby, back room, opaque deal” and declaring that “The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) also criticised Infantino’s leadership, calling for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency” while condemning what it described as “poor governance and leadership.”

The controversy deepened after Grafstrom’s leaked email described the events surrounding the proposal as “a sad and reproachable series of events.”

He added: “Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue.”