Apologizing for errors in the FIFA investment project and continuing support for Infantino

Following the meeting held in Rabat, Morocco, FIFA Secretary General and participating Board members reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the sole official elected by the 211 member national associations. For his part, the FIFA President reaffirmed his full support for the Secretary General and FIFA management, in recognition of the outstanding work they are doing to implement his vision.

The meeting agreed that the procedures and mechanisms for communication and coordination between the FIFA President, the Secretary General, and the Board, which contribute to implementing this vision, can and should be continuously improved in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. The work of FIFA management was also commended for its contribution to the successful organization of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an achievement that would not have been possible without the unity of effort and teamwork between the FIFA President, the Secretary General, and management.

FIFA’s senior management expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would strengthen governance within the organization, help restore trust in it, and enable it to prepare for upcoming events and challenges with a spirit of unity and transparency, while continuing its mission to develop football worldwide.

The meeting also addressed the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” proposal, acknowledging that errors occurred during the process. It was agreed that there was no intention to marginalize the FIFA Council or the member associations, and that the matter should have been handled differently. Additional errors were acknowledged following the leak of the proposal to the media. In a separate message addressed to the FIFA Council and member associations, an apology was offered for these errors, along with a commitment to prevent their recurrence. A comprehensive review of the matter will now be conducted, and a report on it will be presented at the next Council meeting.

As previously announced, the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” proposal, which was intended to be subject to approval by member associations and the FIFA Council, has been definitively withdrawn. Following the withdrawal of the project, it was agreed that FIFA will not tolerate any attacks targeting its integrity, principles of good governance, or due process, and will take all necessary measures to protect its name and reputation.

FIFA emphasized that there are always lessons to be learned, and that it will continue to improve its procedures in light of this experience. However, it stressed that all steps taken, despite the errors involved, were fully compliant with the adopted regulatory frameworks.

In conclusion, FIFA affirmed that it will continue to work with stakeholders to explore ways to enhance support for football development through the FIFA Forward program, benefiting member associations, continental confederations, and regional associations.