FIFA president Gianni Infantino has rejected calls for his resignation following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other major football tournaments to private investors.
The decision comes after days of mounting criticism from football governing bodies, national associations and fans, forcing FIFA to abandon what had become one of the most divisive proposals in the organisation’s recent history.
Following nearly seven hours of crisis talks in Morocco, FIFA released an official statement confirming that its Management Board had reaffirmed its confidence in Infantino despite the widespread backlash.
The governing body also admitted that significant mistakes had been made during the handling of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project.
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In its statement, FIFA acknowledged that member associations and members of the FIFA Council were not adequately involved in discussions before details of the proposal became public.
“We acknowledge mistakes were made in the process of the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).”
The organisation admitted that communication surrounding the proposal should have been handled differently and apologised for the confusion that followed after details of the project were leaked to the media.
“It was certainly not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process, and it should have been handled differently.”
FIFA also promised to review its internal decision-making procedures to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
According to the statement, a formal report examining the events surrounding the failed proposal will be presented during the next scheduled FIFA Council meeting.
Despite acknowledging mistakes, FIFA made it clear that Infantino’s leadership remains secure.
The Management Board publicly expressed its continued support for the Swiss-Italian football administrator, stressing that he remains the only FIFA official directly elected by all 211 member associations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the FIFA Secretary General and the Management Board reaffirm their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino.”
The statement also recognised that communication between the FIFA President, Secretary General and senior management could be improved to enhance transparency and efficiency.
Officials expressed confidence that lessons learned from the controversy would strengthen FIFA’s governance moving forward.
The now-abandoned proposal sought to attract billions of pounds in private investment by selling commercial stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other international competitions.
Critics argued that the move risked placing excessive commercial influence over football’s most prestigious tournaments.
The strongest resistance came from UEFA, whose member associations reportedly threatened to boycott future FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeded.
Several other continental confederations also expressed reservations, ultimately making the project politically impossible to implement.
Faced with growing opposition, Infantino withdrew the proposal before any formal vote could take place.
FIFA’s latest statement emphasised that the project is now permanently off the table.
“The proposal, which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table.”
The organisation also defended its overall governance record, insisting that although mistakes had occurred during the handling of the proposal, all actions remained within FIFA’s regulatory framework.
FIFA further warned that, with the project now withdrawn, it would vigorously defend its reputation against future attacks questioning the integrity of the governing body.
The controversy nevertheless represents one of the biggest political challenges of Infantino’s presidency.
Since assuming office in 2016, Infantino has overseen significant expansion of FIFA competitions and commercial revenues, but his leadership has also attracted criticism over governance, tournament scheduling and decision-making processes.
Although pressure mounted in recent days for him to step aside, the latest statement effectively ends immediate speculation regarding his future.
With the sell-off proposal officially abandoned, FIFA’s attention is expected to shift toward preparations for upcoming international tournaments while attempting to rebuild trust among its member associations.
Whether the apology and renewed commitment to transparency will satisfy critics remains to be seen.
For official updates, visit the FIFA Official Website and UEFA Official Website.
