Gianni Infantino has convened an emergency meeting for FIFA staff in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday amid increasing pressure on his presidency, according to the Press Association.
Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development and former Arsenal manager, stated on Tuesday that he was “not involved” in the plans to attract private investment to manage the World Cup, but emphasized that the decision to withdraw from this initiative was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”
The meeting was reportedly called following developments over the weekend and will include secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and the FIFA management board, which features the organization’s chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief legal officer Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, HR chief Kimberly Morris, media director Bryan Swanson, and communications director David Farrelly.
Grafstrom, who is the second-highest ranking official in FIFA after Infantino, has reached out to staff to address the “sad and reproachable series of events” of the past week, expressing relief that the project has been permanently abandoned.
The proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) for managing the commercial and operational aspects of FIFA’s tournaments first surfaced in reports from The Times and the Financial Times last Tuesday and was later confirmed by FIFA. The most contentious element of the proposal was selling 20% of FFE to private investors.
This plan faced strong opposition from UEFA, the governing body of European football, as well as CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). UEFA also threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, unless the proposal was abandoned, which it was last Saturday.
Despite the withdrawal, UEFA has expressed it has “lost confidence” in Infantino, with several of its member associations—including those from England and Wales—officially withdrawing their support for him. The Scottish Football Association is believed to be aligned with UEFA’s stance as well.
Discussions are ongoing among FIFA council members to seek a majority of 19 to request a meeting to hold Infantino accountable for the plans and his handling of the Folarin Balogun situation.
If a majority cannot be secured, or if Infantino refuses the request, those council members opposing him are considering a ‘governance boycott’ to essentially freeze FIFA’s operations.
Wenger, who faced criticism for not addressing the FFE plans sooner, welcomed the project’s withdrawal on Tuesday, stating: “I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”
Grafstrom communicated with FIFA staff to commend their efforts during the World Cup but acknowledged that they are now “caught in the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept.”
He assured staff that they would be “defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience,” emphasizing that “individuals, unstable moments, and unfortunate episodes come and go.” The institution’s mission and its responsibilities to world football must endure.
These developments follow the resignation of Infantino’s senior advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, and a critical statement from FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who accused Infantino of having “deceived” the organization’s staff.
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While associations in Africa, South America, and Oceania are likely to continue supporting Infantino, Asian associations could play a critical role in his future, with some—such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, and Lebanon—expressing their support.
However, the Jordanian Football Association’s president, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, has accused FIFA of blackmail, claiming on social media that FIFA indicated he would receive overdue funds if he voted for Infantino. FIFA is aware of his remarks but has yet to respond.
In addition, UEFA has indicated it is “actively considering” legal action against the FFE plan, with its lawyers instructing Infantino and other FIFA officials to identify, locate, and preserve any documents related to the initiative.