FIFA has backed Gianni Infantino to remain president, while apologising to its members after admitting mistakes over the now-withdrawn proposal to sell commercial rights for the World Cup and its other competitions.
The vote of confidence on Mr Infantino, who had been under fire over the controversial proposal that led to calls for his resignation or sack by some federations, passed following an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
After the meeting, FIFA released a statement saying, “The 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. 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.”
Following the withdrawal of the project, FIFA members vowed to tolerate no longer any attacks on its integrity, good governance, and due process. It assured that necessary measures would be adopted to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.
FIFA, while expressing its commitment to keep improving its processes, stressed that, despite the mistakes made, the now-scrapped proposal was executed in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework.
The meeting became imperative, following some controversies at the just concluded World Cup jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as the public oppositions by UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC to Mr Infantino’s plans to form the now withdrawn $20 billion FFE entity which would control events like the World Cup, and sell a 21 percent stake of it for $4.2 billion to private investors.
The withdrawal followed threats by UEFA to withdraw from FIFA competitions, along with opposition to the proposal by some members of the world football governing body and some federations across some continents.
FIFA is billed to hold elections in March 2027, and Mr Infantino is looking to extend his stay until 2031, as no other candidate has formally indicated interest in vying for the position.