Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa, is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of football’s global governing body on Wednesday. This meeting comes as criticism intensifies regarding his recently abandoned plan to sell off Fifa’s commercial and event operations. The meeting is understood to be taking place at Fifa’s Africa office in Rabat.
The gathering will include secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and members of the Fifa management board. Among those expected to be in attendance are finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson. The precise intention of the meeting remains unclear, though it is anticipated that Infantino will seek to mend relationships and secure his position.
Concerns over leadership and proposals
The controversy stems from a proposal that has drawn significant backlash. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned on Friday over the plan, describing it as a “bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.” Cordeiro also highlighted a lack of answers to fundamental questions about the deal, including its beneficiaries, oversight, and competitive process.
Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, accused Fifa of creating a situation that “amounts to blackmail” concerning unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election. These claims have not been independently verified, and Fifa has not commented on them. However, Prince Ali’s statement reflects strong opposition among some member associations.
Uefa has expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership. Several member associations, including Wales, have withdrawn support for his re-election, with England reportedly set to follow. Arsene Wenger, chief of global football development, stated he was “not involved” in Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal and deemed its abortion “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”
Internally, Fifa’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, indicated that the private investment plan was “the project of one person” and that Fifa’s own administration was “deceived.” Grafstrom, in an internal memo to staff, described the recent events as a “sad and reproachable series of events” that were “difficult to comprehend and accept.”
Luís Figo, the former Portugal international, has also called for Infantino’s resignation, describing his actions as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.” Figo, who has served as a football adviser to Uefa since 2017, criticized Infantino’s lack of transparency and accused him of debasing the office of Fifa president.
Potential outcomes and future considerations
While Infantino has not shown any indication of considering resignation, he is expected to face serious questions regarding the controversial week for Fifa. Some attendees at the meeting may question his ability to navigate the current challenges, particularly given the strong criticism from European countries.
It is possible that Infantino could issue a statement that includes an apology and a promise of change. He may also need to outline a path for reform, potentially involving additional checks and balances to prevent similar proposals from being devised in the future. There is also speculation about whether he might reconsider plans for a 64-team World Cup or open up Fifa’s cash reserves.
If Infantino chooses to continue in his role, Uefa and other confederations may explore alternative avenues to challenge his leadership. One option could be for the Fifa Council to call an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of the 37 council members to trigger. However, there are doubts about whether the necessary 19 votes could be secured.
Another potential step involves an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations. This would require one-fifth, or 43 associations, to make a written request. Uefa, with 55 nations, could initiate such a congress. This process would take a minimum of two months, and more likely three, with no guarantee of success. An extraordinary congress would effectively serve as a de facto election, requiring 106 votes for a vote of no confidence.
Infantino stood unopposed in his re-elections in 2019 and 2023. The deadline for announcing candidacy for the Fifa Congress in March is 18 November.
Source: bbc.com
