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FIFA has expressed its unwavering support for embattled president Gianni Infantino following an emergency gathering convened to address the fallout from his ill-fated World Cup proposal.
Pressure stemming from his ultimately abandoned plan to sell stakes in future World Cups has prompted widespread calls for Infantino to step down. With tensions escalating, the FIFA president organized an emergency summit in Morocco to chart a path forward.
While the meeting could have resulted in Infantino's resignation, it produced the exact opposite outcome, as FIFA publicly rallied behind their president in a striking official statement that condemned "attacks on their integrity."
"Following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations," a statement read. "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.
"It was discussed and agreed that the processes, communications and interactions between the FIFA President, the FIFA Secretary General and the FIFA Management Board that support the delivery of this vision can and should always be continuously improved in terms of their effectiveness and efficiency.
"The great work of the FIFA Administration that ensured a successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026 was acknowledged, and which would not have been possible without the FIFA President, the FIFA Secretary General and FIFA Administration speaking as one voice and working as one team.
"In this regard, FIFA's top management is fully confident that the outcomes of today's meeting will strengthen FIFA's governance, help restore confidence in the organisation and enable us to prepare for the major events and challenges ahead in a united and transparent manner while continuing our mission to develop the game around the world."
Infantino Apologizes for Nature of World Cup Plan Leak
The statement represents a notable reversal from FIFA and especially from secretary general Mattias Grafström, who had openly criticized Infantino's proposals and the manner in which they were leaked to the press, rather than being formally presented to the broader group in advance.
Contributing to the internal reconciliation was an apology from Infantino, delivered both during the public proceedings of the meeting and via a private letter.
"The meeting also addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, where mistakes made were acknowledged," the statement continued. "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. It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.
"In a separate letter to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations, an apology was made for these errors together with a commitment to ensure they do not happen again. A review will now be conducted, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.
"As previously communicated, the FFE proposal, which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table.
"With the project withdrawn, it was agreed that FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation. There are always lessons to be learned, and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience. In this instance, however, it is important to stress that, although mistakes were made, everything that was done was done in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework.
"FIFA will work closely with the relevant stakeholders to examine how it can further support the development of the game through the FIFA Forward programme for the benefit of FIFA's 211 Member Associations, the Confederations and the Regional Associations."
What Does New Statement Mean for Infantino?
What is clear is that Infantino will neither be stepping down from his role, nor will FIFA be pushing him out. However, this does not guarantee his long-term tenure.
Forty-three of FIFA's 211 Member Associations (MAs) have the power to trigger an emergency congress and a vote of no confidence against the president. A number of MAs have openly declared a loss of faith in Infantino, while UEFA and its 55 MAs have all called for some form of change.
Concacaf, the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, has aligned with UEFA's position, while South America's CONMEBOL is set to hold formal discussions regarding their stance.
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"We are in talks with CONMEBOL regarding this matter, but it's something we don't view favorably," Samir Xaud, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, revealed. "We will make a collective decision together with CONMEBOL, but I, personally, am somewhat against this sale of rights."
The more conventional route to leadership change at FIFA would come through March's presidential elections. Infantino had been expected to run unopposed and had received letters of support from the overwhelming majority of FIFA's MAs ahead of the World Cup, though several have since been retracted in the wake of recent developments.
A number of prominent figures have since been mentioned as potential challengers to Infantino's position, with Concacaf president Victor Montagliani among those tipped to declare their candidacy.