Gianni Infantino, the embattled head of FIFA, has managed to stave off the growing chorus of calls for his resignation—for the time being—thanks to the explicit backing of the organisation's senior officials. In a statement issued after a marathon seven‑hour crisis meeting held in Morocco, the FIFA Management Board reiterated its "full support" for Infantino, a stance that also included Secretary‑General Mattias Grafström.
The two executives, who had only days earlier described the World Cup commercial‑sale proposal as "a sad and reproachable series of events," were later photographed sharing a laugh while watching a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat. The controversy erupted when confidential documents outlining a plan to sell a minority stake in the World Cup were leaked. The proposal, which promised national associations a £30.1 million incentive to back the deal, had been drafted without consulting those very members and set a deadline of mid‑September—just a month away. The lack of transparency sparked an outcry across the football community, prompting several high‑profile figures to demand Infantino’s ouster.
In a letter obtained by Sky News and signed by Infantino and Grafström, the duo expressed a "sincere apology for the errors" that had crept into the proposal. The letter acknowledged that the plan had been withdrawn on Saturday after days of intense criticism from clubs, federations, and media outlets worldwide. A follow‑up statement posted on FIFA.com warned critics that the organisation would no longer tolerate attacks on its integrity, good governance, or due‑process, and pledged to take all necessary measures to protect its reputation. FIFA admitted that it had not intended to make member associations feel excluded from the decision‑making process and conceded that the handling of the proposal should have been "different." It also recognised that additional mistakes were made after the media leak.
To address the fallout, FIFA announced that an independent review would be commissioned, with its findings to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting, which brings together 37 national representatives from across the globe. The episode has taken a heavy toll on Infantino’s standing both inside and outside the governing body. Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, publicly distanced himself from the plan, while Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned on Friday, denouncing the proposal as a "bad deal" and "irresponsible." The head of the Jordan Football Association went further, accusing Infantino of "blackmail," and UEFA openly declared that it had lost confidence in the current FIFA leadership. The English FA called for a "full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership," adding to the mounting pressure.
The backlash intensified on Wednesday when former Portuguese star Luís Figo labeled Infantino’s conduct as "the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self‑interested behaviour" he had ever witnessed. Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney—whose nation was one of the three co‑hosts of the recent World Cup—stated that the scandal should be "fatal" for Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president. Despite the avalanche of criticism, FIFA chose not to address each accusation individually.
Instead, it framed the marathon meeting as a step toward "strengthening governance, restoring confidence, and preparing for major events and challenges in a united and transparent manner." Chronology of key events: - July 28: FIFA unveils the "FIFA Forward Enterprise" plan, proposing to spin off commercial rights, including those of the World Cup, into a new entity valued at roughly $20 billion. - July 28: UEFA launches a public assault, accusing FIFA of rushing the proposal with insufficient consultation.
- July 30: UEFA’s 55 member associations vote to boycott the World Cup if the plan proceeds. - July 31: Cordeiro resigns; UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham declares Infantino the "wrong man" for FIFA. - August 1: Facing relentless opposition, FIFA abandons the investment plan; Infantino withdraws the proposal before a formal vote. - August 1: UEFA reiterates its loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership; Spanish league chief Javier Tebas joins the chorus demanding Infantino step down.
- August 3: The Welsh FA becomes the first association to formally withdraw support for Infantino’s re‑election. - August 3: UEFA reportedly prepares legal action and instructs lawyers to preserve all FIFA documents related to the proposal. - August 3: The English FA signals its intention to write to Infantino rescinding prior backing.
- August 5: Figo becomes the first legendary former player to call for Infantino’s resignation. - August 5: Crisis meeting in Morocco; FIFA reaffirms "full support" for Infantino. Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol observed that Infantino possesses a "very thick skin" and remains convinced that his mandate comes from the 211 member associations that elected him.
Solhekol noted that if Infantino were to be removed, it would have to come from those very bodies, perhaps through an emergency FIFA Council vote of no‑confidence or an extraordinary FIFA Congress. Looking ahead, the deadline for presidential candidates to declare their intention to run is November 18.
Infantino appears to be calculating that he still commands sufficient backing across South America, Africa, and parts of Asia to survive until the next scheduled election in March. Nevertheless, the next moves by UEFA—a confederation that has been the most vocal opponent of the sell‑off plan—will be crucial in determining whether Infantino can retain his position or if a leadership change becomes inevitable. The original "FIFA Forward Enterprise" concept aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion from external investors by selling minority, non‑controlling stakes in a new commercial vehicle, with the promise of delivering more than $10 billion in football‑development funding over four years.
While the financial rationale was presented as a means to bolster the sport’s global growth, the lack of member consultation and the opaque nature of the deal eroded trust. Potential successors have been mentioned in the media, though none have formally declared candidacy. Names include Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, former runner‑up in the 2015 FIFA presidential election and current AFC president; Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF chief who, despite historically close ties to Infantino, rejected the proposal; and Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president, whose vision for football diverges sharply from Infantino’s commercial‑centric approach. However, as of now, no clear challenger has stepped forward, leaving the future of FIFA’s leadership in a state of uncertainty.