FIFA apologises over failed $4.2bn World Cup rights plan, backs Infantino

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino

RABAT — FIFA has thrown its weight behind Gianni Infantino after an internal crisis over a controversial plan to sell part of the organisation’s future commercial rights, while admitting that the process was mishandled and apologising to member associations.

The football governing body’s leadership met in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, days after FIFA abruptly abandoned a proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in a new commercial rights company to private investors.

The proposed transaction was expected to generate about $4.2 billion, but instead triggered a fierce backlash from football stakeholders and exposed divisions within FIFA over Infantino’s leadership.

Following the meeting, FIFA said its Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, and members of the management board had “reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino”.

Infantino, in turn, “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”.

The unusually emphatic show of solidarity comes as questions grow over the Swiss-Italian’s bid for another term as FIFA president at next March’s election.

Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking to extend his presidency to 2031. But the commercial-rights controversy has generated some of the strongest internal and external criticism of his tenure.

‘Sad and reproachable’ episode

Grafström reportedly acknowledged the turmoil in an internal message to FIFA employees, describing the chain of events surrounding the abandoned project as a “sad and reproachable series of events”.

Two sources told Reuters that the Secretary General did not name Infantino in the memo, but indicated that the organisation would survive the current upheaval.

“individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go,” Grafström wrote, according to the sources, stressing that FIFA’s work would continue.

The message followed comments by FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who said staff had been “deceived” over the proposal and characterised it as the project of one person.

FIFA’s management subsequently sought to draw a line under the dispute.

The organisation said a separate communication had been sent to members of the FIFA Council and the 211 national associations, acknowledging that mistakes had been made and promising a review of the process.

“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,” FIFA said.

The organisation added that, following the withdrawal of the proposal, it would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process”.

UEFA, AFC among critics

The abandoned plan had already attracted intense opposition from several of football’s most influential stakeholders.

UEFA said it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, while CONCACAF also expressed opposition. The Asian Football Confederation criticised FIFA for presenting the proposal without sufficient consultation.

The controversy was further complicated by scrutiny surrounding the participation of a company with family connections to US President Donald Trump.

Former Portugal international Luis Figo, who unsuccessfully sought the FIFA presidency in 2015, called on Infantino to resign.

UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister separately told Reuters that the episode had pushed the FIFA president’s leadership into crisis.

European Leagues, representing more than 1,300 clubs across the continent, added its voice to the criticism on Wednesday, warning that FIFA must not be allowed to “continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions” affecting clubs, players and supporters.

The organisation also criticised the timeframe FIFA has set for assessing a separate proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, describing the four-week assessment period as “impractically short”.

The governance battle could escalate if FIFA’s opposition gathers sufficient momentum. Under the organisation’s rules, an Extraordinary Congress can be convened if at least 43 member associations submit a formal written request.

Infantino still has allies

Despite the backlash, Infantino retains significant support, particularly among football associations in less wealthy regions that depend heavily on FIFA funding.

Several prominent African football administrators have expressed support for the president, as Infantino looks towards the continent’s 54 member associations for backing. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), however, has yet to publicly take a position.

Oceania’s regional confederation is also expected to consider its position when its executive committee meets next Wednesday.

Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines have all declared support for Infantino despite the AFC’s criticism.

The structure of FIFA’s electoral system also gives every member association equal voting power. That means San Marino, ranked 211th and last in the men’s world rankings, carries the same vote as football giants such as Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain.

For Infantino, that arithmetic could prove important.

Despite the storm surrounding his leadership, no obvious challenger has yet emerged to contest the March election, leaving the incumbent with a potentially decisive advantage as he seeks another four-year term.

Morocco backs Infantino

One of the earliest associations to reaffirm support for Infantino after the commercial plan collapsed was Morocco — a significant development given the country’s role in the 2030 World Cup.

Morocco will co-host the tournament with Portugal and Spain and is hoping to stage the final.

That has fuelled speculation that political support for Infantino could be connected to the selection of the championship match venue.

FIFA rejected that suggestion.

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

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

For now, the immediate commercial crisis may have been contained. But the abandoned multibillion-dollar proposal has left Infantino facing a more consequential test: whether he can rebuild trust with the football associations, confederations, clubs and officials whose support he needs to remain at the helm of world football.