FIFA Faces Backlash Over World Cup Investment Plan Controversy

Rabat: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the "full support" of senior directors amidst a storm of criticism over the now-abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investment. The governing body issued an apology for the controversy during a crisis meeting held in Morocco, acknowledging errors in handling the proposal but standing by Infantino.According to France24.com, FIFA's leadership admitted to making errors following the leak of the proposal to the media. The plan, which was projected to raise up to $4.2 billion, involved creating a new commercial subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage events like the World Cup and Club World Cup. Despite its financial promise, the proposal sparked severe backlash, especially from UEFA, which threatened to boycott the World Cup. Consequently, Infantino withdrew the plan last Saturday.Infantino, who has been under mounting pressure from within his organization, reiterated FIFA's commitment to unity and improvement. After the meeting in Rabat, the FIFA Secretary General and Management Board members expressed their unwavering support for Infantino, emphasizing that mistakes were made in the proposal's process and in the aftermath of its media leak.The meeting participants, including FIFA's Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom, who had previously criticized the plan in an internal email, agreed that the FIFA Council and Member Associations should not have felt excluded. They issued an apology to these bodies, pledging to prevent similar mistakes in the future. The FFE proposal, which required approval from FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, was confirmed to be off the table.Infantino, present in Morocco for the Feast of the Enthronement, was seen attending a Women's Africa Cup of Nations match alongside the Moroccan football federation president. Morocco, a co-host for the 2030 World Cup, has publicly supported Infantino, with Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa commending his decision to abandon the investment plan.Despit e the recent successful World Cup, Infantino's leadership faces significant challenges. UEFA has criticized the proposal as a "shabby, back room, opaque deal," indicating a loss of confidence from the European body and others in the football community. CONCACAF has called for a "comprehensive reckoning" with the presidency, citing poor governance and leadership. Additionally, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has withdrawn his confidence in Infantino's ability to lead FIFA, following Canada's co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup.