FIFA president Gianni Infantino has convened an emergency meeting of senior staff in Rabat, Morocco, as pressure intensifies over the organisation's scrapped plan to bring private investment into a company responsible for running its tournaments.
The meeting involves FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and members of the organisation's management board, according to sources familiar with the matter. This development follows public comments from former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, who broke his silence on the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
Wenger's Stance and Independent FIFA
Wenger stated he was "not involved" in plans to seek private investment in FFE, while describing FIFA's decision to abandon the project as "absolutely necessary and beyond question". He reaffirmed his support for an independent FIFA, saying: "I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity."
The FFE proposal emerged after reports revealed plans for FIFA to establish a company to oversee commercial and operational sides of its tournaments. The proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake to private investors triggered strong opposition from several football confederations.
Confederations' Opposition and Threats
UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) all rejected the plan. UEFA reportedly threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the proposal was not withdrawn. FIFA eventually scrapped the project, but the controversy has not subsided.
UEFA has said it has "lost confidence" in Infantino. Several national associations, including England and Wales, have withdrawn their support. The Scottish Football Association is also understood to be aligned with UEFA's position.
FIFA Council Moves and Governance Boycott
Members of the FIFA Council are reportedly working to secure the 19 votes needed to request a meeting to hold Infantino accountable over the FFE proposal and his handling of the Folarin Balogun case. If they fail to secure the majority, or if Infantino rejects a meeting request, opponents are considering a "governance boycott" that could hamper FIFA's functioning.
Grafström has contacted FIFA employees, describing the past week's events as a "sad and reproachable series of events" that ended with the project being "permanently abandoned". He acknowledged that employees had been "thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept", assuring them they would be "defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience". Grafström added: "Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue."
Support and Allegations
The developments follow the resignation of Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro. Infantino is expected to retain support from African, South American, and Oceanian associations, while Asian members could be decisive. Some Asian associations, including Qatar, the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Lebanon, support Infantino.
Jordan's FA president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, however, accused FIFA of "blackmail" on X, alleging that during the World Cup, FIFA told him money owed to his association would be paid if he voted for Infantino. FIFA has declined to comment on the allegations.
UEFA has told Infantino it is "actively considering" legal action over the FFE proposal. Lawyers for UEFA have reportedly instructed Infantino and other FIFA officials to preserve documents connected to the abandoned project.
