FIFA meeting in Rabat: Apology for mistakes and call for unity behind Infantino
In an extraordinary meeting held yesterday (Wednesday) in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) attempted to contain an unprecedented crisis that shook its foundations, following the controversy sparked by the project to privatize the World Cup. The statement issued after the meeting carried contradictory messages: an explicit acknowledgment of “mistakes” in managing and leaking the project to the media, alongside a reaffirmation of full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with a clear call for member associations and the FIFA Council to unite behind him during this critical phase.
The meeting, attended by Secretary General Matthias Kravetz and members of the Executive Committee, was not merely a review of events; it appeared to be an attempt to rebuild internal confidence by emphasizing that the president, elected by 211 associations, needs internal backing before facing the external storm. The stance carried an implicit meaning: unity within FIFA is the only way to overcome the crisis, even if it requires a public apology for mistakes.
The controversial project, which would have created a subsidiary named “FIFA Forward Enterprise” valued at $20 billion and granted member associations payments of up to $20 million each, turned into a source of sharp division. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) described it as a “shameful and opaque deal” and threatened a boycott, while the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) called for a comprehensive review of the presidency. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney explicitly declared a loss of confidence in Infantino’s ability to lead FIFA.
The statement issued late Wednesday evening acknowledged that associations felt excluded from the process and that leaking the proposal to the media had intensified the crisis. A formal apology and a commitment to prevent recurrence were added, but behind these words, the goal was to secure Infantino’s position through renewed support, despite strong voices from Europe, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean calling for a comprehensive review of the presidency.
Infantino, who had been basking in the success of the recent World Cup featuring 48 national teams, suddenly found himself in an enviable position. Calls for his resignation escalated, and prominent advisors such as Carlos Cordeiro resigned, announcing their opposition to the project. Even internal figures, such as Arsène Wenger and Kravetz, distanced themselves from the president. Nevertheless, the meeting concluded with a clear message: despite divisions, FIFA seeks to project a unified image behind its president, even as calls for change intensify and serious questions are raised about the future of global football leadership.
On Thursday, UEFA reaffirmed its decision to boycott competitions organized by its counterpart, FIFA, including the World Cups, despite FIFA’s retreat from its plan to open the World Cup doors to foreign investors.
In a statement obtained by Agence France-Presse, UEFA clarified: “UEFA member associations were very clear about the conditions linked to their non-participation in FIFA competitions.”
In addition to the withdrawal of the “FIFA Forward” project—a demand that has been met—UEFA is calling for “guarantees that such attempts to damage football in this manner will not be repeated,” and affirmed that “these conditions have not been met,” reiterating its “loss of confidence in the presidency of Gianni Infantino.”
