FIFA's senior leadership has reaffirmed its full support for President Gianni Infantino during a crisis meeting held in Rabat, Morocco. The gathering was convened as the world football governing body moves to contain the fallout from a controversial $20 billion proposal that sought to sell off commercial and operational rights to the World Cup.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, FIFA confirmed that Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and members of the FIFA Management Board have expressed their continued backing for the FIFA President. In turn, Infantino reiterated his own support for the secretary general and the wider FIFA administration. The organization stated that the top management remains confident that the meeting's outcomes will strengthen governance, restore confidence in the body, and allow it to prepare for upcoming challenges in a transparent and unified manner.
The statement also acknowledged the administrative efforts required to ensure a successful 2026 World Cup, noting that such progress would not have been possible without the collaboration of the FIFA President, the Secretary General, and the administration. Addressing the now-withdrawn proposal, FIFA admitted that mistakes were made during the process. The governing body stated it was never the intention for the FIFA Council and member associations to feel excluded, and acknowledged that the matter should have been handled differently.
FIFA confirmed that a formal letter of apology has been sent to members of the FIFA Council and national associations. A comprehensive review of the situation is currently underway, with findings set to be presented at the council's next scheduled meeting. FIFA emphasized that the $20 billion proposal is now officially off the table. Furthermore, the organization declared that it will no longer tolerate attacks on its integrity, good governance, or due process, and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its reputation.
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