Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of football’s global governing body in Rabat, Morocco. This meeting follows intensifying criticism of his recently withdrawn plan to sell off Fifa’s commercial and event operations. The gathering is expected to include Mattias Grafstrom, the secretary general, and other members of the Fifa management board.
The meeting comes after Grafstrom reportedly sent a critical internal memo to Fifa staff. Among those expected to attend 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 Infantino is anticipated to attempt to reconcile with his inner circle and secure his position.
Criticism and calls for resignation
The controversial proposal has drawn significant backlash. Luís Figo, the former Portugal international and current football adviser to Uefa, has called for Infantino’s resignation, describing the scheme as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.” Figo accused Infantino of having “debased the office of Fifa president that he promised to elevate” since he took office in 2016.
Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, has also accused Fifa of engaging in “blackmail” by allegedly threatening to withhold financial assistance if his federation did not support Infantino’s re-election bid. These claims have not been independently verified, and Fifa has not commented on them. Uefa has stated that it has lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, and several member associations, including Wales, have withdrawn their support for his re-election.
Arsene Wenger, Fifa’s chief of global football development, distanced himself from the proposal, stating he was “not involved” and that aborting it was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.” Kevin Lamour, Fifa’s chief operating officer, reportedly described the private investment plan as “the project of one person” and claimed Fifa’s administration was “deceived.”
Key questions and potential reforms
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the plan, calling it “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.” Cordeiro outlined several fundamental questions that Infantino may face at the meeting, including the rationale behind the deal, the oversight mechanisms, who would benefit, and whether a competitive process was followed. Member associations were reportedly given a deadline to approve the plan or risk missing out on additional funding.
Infantino may need to demonstrate contrition and propose a path to reform to regain support. This could involve implementing additional checks and balances to prevent similar proposals from being developed in the future. There is also speculation that he might consider shelving plans for a 64-team World Cup or opening up Fifa’s cash reserves.
Despite the criticism, Infantino has not indicated any intention to resign. He has been attempting to rally support, with countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo issuing statements in his favour. Morocco, where the meeting is taking place, is considered friendly territory for Infantino, as its national football association has publicly supported him.
Possible next steps
If Infantino chooses to continue in his role, opponents, particularly Uefa and other confederations, may explore other avenues to challenge his leadership. One possibility is for the Fifa Council to call an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of its 37 members to request it. However, there are doubts about whether the necessary votes could be secured.
Another option 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 member nations, could initiate such a congress. This process would take a minimum of two months, and potentially three, and would effectively be a vote of no confidence requiring 106 votes to pass. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is seen by some as a potential unity candidate to challenge Infantino.
Infantino stood unopposed in his re-election bids in 2019 and 2023. The deadline for candidates to announce their intention to run against him for the Fifa Congress is in November.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
