FIFA has reaffirmed its support for President Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco over scrapped plans to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights, while apologising to members over mistakes in handling the process.
The proposal, which aimed to sell a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial rights entity to private investors and raise around $4.2 billion, was withdrawn last week after strong opposition from football officials and regional confederations.
Infantino faced criticism from inside and outside FIFA, with UEFA and CONCACAF saying they had lost confidence in his leadership and raising questions over his position ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Following the meeting in Rabat, FIFA said its secretary general and management board members had reaffirmed their “full support” for Infantino.
The organisation also said it had sent a letter to FIFA Council members and national associations acknowledging that the process should have been handled differently.
“It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA member associations to feel excluded from the process,” FIFA said, adding that it would review its approach.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom had earlier described the events surrounding the abandoned project as a “sad and reproachable series of events”, while Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said staff had been “deceived” over the plan.
The proposed deal triggered criticism from UEFA and other football stakeholders, who argued that such a major decision required greater consultation.
UEFA said the withdrawal of the proposal was a victory for football but warned that rebuilding trust in FIFA had only begun.
The Asian Football Confederation also criticised the way the plan was presented, saying it lacked transparency and proper consultation.
European Leagues, which represents more than 1,300 clubs, said FIFA should not continue making decisions affecting clubs, players and fans without wider involvement.
Despite the criticism, Infantino continues to have support from several football associations, particularly in regions where national federations depend heavily on FIFA funding.
Several associations, including Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines, have expressed support for the FIFA president.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking a fourth term in office at elections scheduled for next year. No clear challenger has emerged so far.
FIFA said it would continue reviewing its governance processes following the controversy, while maintaining that the organisation’s work would continue.
A tanker reported hearing two explosions off the coast of Oman while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre ...
Firefighters battling a cluster of wildfires near Spokane, Washington, have established primary containment lines around the blazes, but crews are rac...
FIFA has reaffirmed its support for President Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco over scrapped plans to sell a stake in World Cup comm...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran "really hard" if a deal was not reached.
Tehran had made plans to strike sites in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian military adviser has said. Iran refrained from taking action after Kyiv said the strike was a mistake, Mohsen Rezaei told the state IRIB TV channel.
U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies has reported a 93 per cent year-on-year jump in second-quarter revenue, even as the company faces continued criticism over its work with Israel's military and allegations linking its technology to the war in Gaza.a.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the country's ambassadors to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and several other countries. The removals came after a speech on Monday in which he said embassies would be judged on their effectiveness in securing weapons for Ukraine.
Firefighters battling a cluster of wildfires near Spokane, Washington, have established primary containment lines around the blazes, but crews are racing to strengthen defences ahead of another spell of hot and dry weather.
New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing the federal agency of withholding unredacted files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and obstructing its renewed criminal investigation.
The Democratic Party's progressive wing has claimed a significant political victory after Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan's Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, setting up a closely watched contest against Republican Mike Rogers in November.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he no longer has confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as pressure mounts over the handling of a controversial proposal to sell the commercial rights to the men's World Cup.
Türkiye's ruling alliance has submitted draft legislation to parliament aimed at advancing the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The proposed law includes legal protections for many former militants and suspended prison sentences for some convicted members.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment