FIFA apologises to members over abandoned 4.2bn World Cup stake sale plan, backs Infantino
Story Timeline
8 days · 8 summary articles
FIFA apologized to its 211 member associations on Wednesday for mistakes in its abandoned proposal to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial rights entity tied to the World Cup, as the governing body’s leadership reaffirmed its full support for President Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco.
The meeting, attended by Infantino, Secretary General Mattias Grafström and members of FIFA’s management board, followed the withdrawal last Friday of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which would have raised about $4.2 billion from private investors. In a statement, FIFA acknowledged the proposal should have been handled differently and said a separate letter had been sent to FIFA Council members and member associations apologizing for the errors and promising a review .
FIFA added that it would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process” and would take all necessary measures to protect its reputation . The statement noted that Infantino, president since 2016, was “the only official elected by the 211 FIFA member associations.”
Grafström sent an internal memo to staff this week lamenting the “sad and reproachable series of events” that led to the project being “permanently abandoned,” according to two sources who spoke to Reuters . His words echoed those of FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who said last week that staff had been “deceived” over the plan, which he described as the project of one person .
The proposal drew scrutiny due to the involvement of a company with family links to U.S. President Donald Trump and prompted fierce criticism from UEFA and other stakeholders, who accused FIFA of poor governance and a lack of consultation . UEFA has said it no longer has confidence in Infantino’s leadership, casting a shadow over his re-election bid for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco next March .
Former Portugal star Luís Figo and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have also publicly stated they have no confidence in Infantino . Despite the backlash, FIFA’s leadership reiterated its backing for Infantino, who in turn reaffirmed his support for Grafström and the FIFA administration .
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Articles
Infantino holds on as FIFA apologises for dumped World Cup plan
gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago
FIFA apologizes to members as Infantino holds crisis meeting amid stake sale fallout
gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago
Fifa ber om ursäkt för misstag – och varnar Fifa-ordförande Gianni Infantino och den svenske generalsekreteraren Mattias Grafström ber om ursäkt för den havererade VM-planen.Samtidigt varnar Fifa att förbundet inte kommer att tolerera angrepp på dess integritet.
svenska dagbladet · about 3 hours ago
Fifa entschuldigt sich nach Krisentreffen: Rückendeckung für Infantino Die Führung des Fußball-Weltverbands Fifa hat nach einem Krisentreffen ihre uneingeschränkte Unterstützung für Präsident Gianni Infantino ausgesprochen
der standard · about 4 hours ago
Ce qui est ressorti de la réunion de crise de la Fifa au Maroc Assaillie de critiques après son projet avorté douverture à des investisseurs privés, la direction de la Fifa a reconnu des "erreurs" et présenté des "excuses", affichant néanmoins un "plein soutien" au président Gianni Infantino, mercredi à lissue dune réunion de crise au Maroc. ...
la libre · about 4 hours ago
Infantino se je posul s pepelom, a odstopiti ne namerava Gianni Infantino se je opravičil za napake, ki jih je storil pri spornih načrtih za prodajo deležev v tekmovanjih zasebnim vlagateljem. Kljub temu bo ostal predsednik Fife, saj je na srečanju v Maroku prejel podporo vodilnih funkcionarjev organizacije.
rtv slovenia · about 4 hours ago
Infantino and FIFA present united front after crisis meeting over stake sale fallout FIFA apologized to its members for mistakes made over its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup as the bodys leadership reaffirmed its support for…
japantoday · about 4 hours ago
FIFA apologises over failed $4.2bn World Cup rights plan FIFA apologised to its members for mistakes made over its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup as the bodys leadership reaffirmed its support for President Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday. The proposal to sell a 20 stake in a new commercial rights entity to private investors […]
cyprus mail · about 4 hours ago
Carney curses Infantino as FIFA backs its president FIFAs President Gianni Infantino gets the support of executive members at an emergency meeting in Morocco.
aljazeera · about 4 hours ago
Treffen in Marokko: Nach Krisenrunde: FIFA-Spitze demonstriert Einigkeit Nach heftiger Kritik an den Investorenplänen stellt sich die FIFA-Spitze demonstrativ hinter Präsident Infantino. Angriffe auf die Integrität der FIFA werde der Weltverband nicht dulden.
tagesspiegel · about 4 hours ago
FIFA apologises for World Cup private investment controversy FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a crisis meeting on Wednesday in Morocco following the controversy over opening up the World Cup to private investors. In a joint letter with Secretary General Mattias Grafström, he acknowledged mistakes and a lack of consultation. Despite the controversy, FIFA officials reiterated their full support for the organisations president.
france24 · about 4 hours ago
FIFA backs Infantino but apologises over World Cup investment plan FIFAs leadership reaffirmed its full support for president Gianni Infantino while apologising for its handling of the now-abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investment, acknowledging the proposal should have been managed differently after triggering a fierce international backlash.
france24 · about 4 hours ago
FIFA apologises for World Cup sell-off plan and pledges support for Infantino
gdeltproject.org · about 4 hours ago
Bocsánatot kért Gianni Infantino, amiért kiárusította volna a világbajnokságot Hibának nevezte saját tervét a FIFA elnöke, aki egyelőre marad a szervezet élén.
hvg.hu · about 4 hours ago
Președintele FIFA, Gianni Infantino, îşi joacă ultima carte. Ce a promis unei federații la schimb cu sprijinul public Preşedintele FIFA, Gianni Infantino, care a convocat o şedinţă de criză la Rabat, i-ar fi promis Marocului organizarea finalei următoarei Cupe Mondiale în schimbul unui sprijin ferm, relatează Le Figaro.
digi24 · about 5 hours ago
Infantino sajnálja a hibákat, és marad a FIFA elnöke A válságtanácskozáson mindenki beállt mögé.
444.hu · about 5 hours ago
Nach Krisensitzung: FIFA-Spitze bekräftigt „uneingeschränkte Unterstützung für Infantino Nach heftiger Kritik an den Investorenplänen stellt sich die FIFA-Spitze demonstrativ hinter Präsident Infantino. Angriffe auf die Integrität der FIFA werde der Weltverband nicht dulden.
faz · about 5 hours ago
Fußball-Weltverband FIFA stellt sich hinter Infantino Auch kritischer Generalsekretär Grafström bei Krisensitzung in Rabat anwesend - Kommunikation soll verbessert werden - FIFA dementierte Infantino-Zusage an Marokko für WM-Finale
die presse · about 5 hours ago
FIFA-Spitze stellt sich hinter Infantino
orf.at · about 5 hours ago
FIFA pledges to defend Infantino after World Cup rights plan collapses Infantino has faced leadership crisis as UEFA, AFC and Concacaf threaten drastic actions over commercial rights plan.
aljazeera · about 5 hours ago
Infantino to remain as FIFA boss following crisis meeting FIFA issued a statement late on Wednesday saying that Infantino retained the "full support" of Secretary General Mattias Grafström and members of the FIFA management board.
euronews · about 5 hours ago
Infantino blijft na spoedoverleg voorlopig aan als FIFA-baas Ondanks de felle kritiek op zijn inmiddels geschrapte investeringsplan voor het WK blijft Gianni Infantino voorlopig aan als FIFA-baas. Na spoedoverleg in Marokko heeft het bestuur van de wereldvoetbalbond zijn volledige steun uitgesproken voor de Zwitser.
rtl nieuws · about 5 hours ago
Infantino biedt excuses aan voor WK-plan en behoudt steun van FIFA-bestuur Voorzitter Gianni Infantino heeft woensdag in een brief naar alle leden van wereldvoetbalbond FIFA zijn excuses aangeboden voor het bekritiseerde WK-investeringsplan. Hij geeft toe dat er "fouten zijn gemaakt". Infantino behoudt desondanks de volledige steun van het FIFA-bestuur.
nu.nl · about 5 hours ago
FIFA: «Full støtte» til Gianni Infantino En hardt presset FIFA-president gikk ut av krisemøtet i Marokko i går med en beklagelse. Men han vil ikke trekke seg.
nrk · about 6 hours ago
Nach Krisensitzung der Fifa-Spitze in Marokko: „Uneingeschränkte Unterstützung für Infantino Die Führungsspitze der Fifa hat sich demonstrativ hinter den Präsidenten Gianni Infantino gestellt. Er war wegen der gescheiterten Investoren-Pläne massiv in die Kritik geraten.
tagesspiegel · about 6 hours ago
FIFA ontkent dat Infantino WK-finale aan Marokko heeft beloofd in ruil voor steun De FIFA ontkent dat voorzitter Gianni Infantino Marokko heeft aangeboden de volgende WK-finale te mogen organiseren in ruil voor steun. De wereldvoetbalbond noemt de geruchten "onwaar en misleidend".
nu.nl · about 6 hours ago
BREAKING: FIFA said its leadership reaffirmed full support for President Gianni Infantino at a crisis meeting with senior officials of world soccers governing body in Morocco reut.rs/4hOdcXd
bluesky_Reuters · about 7 hours ago
Kom ut fra krisemøte med beklagelse og trussel Fifa-president Gianni Infantino nekter å trekke seg. Han kom etter onsdagens krisemøte både med en beklagelse og en…
aftenposten · about 7 hours ago
Infantino sorry for errors but stays Fifa president Gianni Infantino will remain as Fifa president after receiving the backing of senior executives, but "sincerely apologises" for errors made in his controversial private investment plans.
bbc · about 8 hours ago
Premier Canada heeft geen vertrouwen meer in FIFA-baas Infantino Premier Mark Carney van Canada heeft geen vertrouwen meer in voorzitter Gianni Infantino van wereldvoetbalbond FIFA, zei hij woensdag. De positie van de Zwitserse Italiaan Infantino staat onder druk, nadat hij een plan presenteerde om de commerciële rechten van het WK voetbal gedeeltelijk te willen verkopen aan investeerders. Het plan is inmiddels teruggetrokken.
rtl nieuws · about 9 hours ago