Fifa president Gianni Infantino is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of football’s world governing body on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco. This meeting follows intensified criticism of his recently abandoned plan to sell off Fifa‘s commercial and event operations. The gathering is understood to include secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and members of the Fifa management board.
Among those expected to be in attendance are finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson. The purpose of the meeting is not entirely clear, but it is anticipated that Infantino will attempt to mend relationships and secure his position as president.
Mounting Opposition and Key Questions
The meeting comes after significant internal and external opposition to Infantino’s proposal. Secretary general Grafstrom sent a critical internal memo to Fifa staff, describing recent events as a “sad and reproachable series of events.” Kevin Lamour, Fifa‘s chief operating officer, stated that the private investment plan was “the project of one person” and that Fifa‘s administration felt “deceived.”
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned last Friday over the plan, calling it a “bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.” Cordeiro posed several fundamental questions that Infantino may face at the meeting, including inquiries about the deal’s necessity, oversight, beneficiaries, competitive process, and governance.
The proposal had set a deadline of 19 September for member associations to approve the plan to receive additional funding. Cordeiro highlighted that these questions remained largely unanswered, despite the significant decision member associations were asked to make.
Outside of Fifa, criticism has also been strong. Uefa stated it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, and several member associations, including Wales, have withdrawn support for his re-election. England is also reportedly set to follow suit. Football legend Luis Figo publicly stated that Infantino “must go,” describing his conduct as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour.”
Arsene Wenger, chief of global football development, insisted he was “not involved” in the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, adding that its cancellation was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.” Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, accused Fifa of creating a situation amounting to “blackmail” over unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election. Fifa has not commented on these claims.
Infantino’s Position and Potential Next Steps
Despite the widespread criticism, Infantino has not indicated any intention to relinquish his position. He has been attempting to rally support globally, with countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo issuing statements in his favour. Morocco, where Infantino has been based recently, is considered a favourable location for him, as its national football association supports him and it is set to host the next World Cup.
It is considered unlikely that Infantino will resign by the end of Wednesday’s meeting. Instead, he may view this as an opportunity to initiate a fightback, potentially offering an apology and promising changes. This could involve implementing additional checks and balances to prevent similar proposals from being devised in the future. He might also consider shelving plans for a 64-team World Cup or opening up Fifa‘s cash reserves.
If Infantino chooses to continue in his role, Uefa and other confederations may explore alternative avenues to remove him. One option is for the Fifa Council to force an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of the 37 council members to call for it. However, there are doubts that the necessary votes could be secured.
Another possibility is an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations. This would be triggered if one-fifth, or 43 associations, make a written request. Uefa, with its 55 nations, could initiate such a congress, which would take a minimum of two months, more likely three months, to organise. This would effectively be a de facto election, requiring 106 votes for a vote of no confidence.
The deadline to announce candidacy for the Fifa Congress election in March is 18 November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is seen as a potential unity candidate to challenge Infantino, who stood unopposed in his re-elections in 2019 and 2023.
Source: bbc.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
