Gianni Infantino gets internal support at crisis meeting to remain as FIFA president
Gianni Infantino received backing from FIFA's senior leadership at a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, held to address the fallout from his abandoned plan to sell stakes in World Cup revenues through a scheme known as FIFA Forward Enterprise. The gathering came as Infantino seeks a fourth term as president ahead of elections in March, and it exposed deep divisions within world football's governing body over how the controversy was handled and what it means for FIFA's governance going forward.
FIFA's management board and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström acknowledged that mistakes had been made and that the process "should have been handled differently," though the meeting on 5 August ultimately produced support for Infantino remaining in post. Opposition remains substantial, however: UEFA has threatened potential World Cup boycotts, European Leagues have demanded governance reforms, former Portugal international Luis Figo has called on Infantino to resign, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he no longer has confidence in him. Some senior advisers have reportedly distanced themselves from Infantino or resigned amid the fallout.
- FIFA leadership backs Infantino at crisis meeting in Morocco despite scandal.
- Fallout follows his abandoned plan to sell World Cup revenue stakes.
- UEFA, European Leagues and Luis Figo demand accountability or resignation.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
FIFA's senior leadership, which possesses detailed knowledge of the organisation's operations, has backed Infantino's continued tenure whilst acknowledging process mistakes rather than fundamental strategic failings. Supporters would argue that removing the president amid a governance crisis would risk further institutional destabilisation, and that the judgment of FIFA's own governing bodies should not be overridden by external pressure, particularly given that meaningful reforms have been achieved during his tenure.
The case against
The abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme and the acknowledged governance failures represent a crisis of legitimacy from which Infantino cannot recover, particularly given opposition from major stakeholders including UEFA and European Leagues whose support is essential for FIFA's credibility. Critics contend that when the president has lost the confidence of key football bodies and prominent international figures, he lacks the legitimacy necessary to lead the organisation effectively, and that meaningful governance reform requires fresh leadership unencumbered by association with the failed scheme.