Fifa president Gianni Infantino convened senior leaders of the organization on Wednesday at the Africa office in Rabat, Morocco, following intense backlash against his now-abandoned plan to sell commercial and event operations. The gathering included secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, and other top executives as Infantino attempted to stabilize his position amid mounting opposition.
Criticism intensified in the days before the meeting. Grafstrom issued a highly critical internal memo describing recent events as “a sad and reproachable series of events,” while Arsene Wenger, chief of global football development, distanced himself from the proposal and called its cancellation “absolutely necessary.” Kevin Lamour, chief operating officer, characterized the investment plan as “the project of one person” and stated that Fifa’s administration had been “deceived.” Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser, resigned on Friday, calling the proposal “a bad deal for football” and raising unanswered questions about the deal’s rationale, timing, oversight, and benefits.
Opposition to Infantino expanded geographically. Uefa announced it had lost confidence in his leadership, with Wales withdrawing support and England set to follow. Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, accused Fifa of creating a situation amounting to “blackmail” regarding unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election, though these claims remain unverified. Conversely, several African nations including Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo issued statements supporting the president.
Infantino faces potential removal through several mechanisms. The Fifa Council could trigger an emergency meeting if 19 of 37 members call for one, though observers question whether sufficient votes exist. Alternatively, Uefa’s 55 member associations could trigger an extraordinary congress if 43 associations submit written requests. The next Fifa Congress occurs in March, with candidacy announcements due by 18 November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered the most likely opposition candidate, though historical precedent suggests incumbent survival remains probable even amid scandal.
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