FIFA President Gianni Infantino is meeting with senior officials of world football’s governing body in Rabat, Morocco, as criticism continues to mount over the collapse of a controversial proposal to privatise FIFA’s commercial and event operations.
The high-level meeting follows increasing opposition from football stakeholders and member associations, as well as internal dissatisfaction over the handling of the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
According to reports, the meeting is taking place at FIFA’s Africa office in Rabat and is expected to include FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom alongside members of the organisation’s management board.
Among those expected to participate are Chief Finance Officer Thomas Peyer, Chief Legal Officer Emilio Garcia Silvero, Chief of Staff Daniel O’Toole, Chief of Member Associations Elkhan Mammadov, and Director of Media Relations Bryan Swanson.
Although FIFA has not officially disclosed the agenda, the gathering is widely viewed as an effort by Infantino to rebuild confidence within the organisation and consolidate support for his leadership following the failed commercial proposal.
Pressure on the FIFA president intensified after Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, publicly distanced himself from the project, stating that he had no involvement in the proposal and describing its abandonment as both necessary and unavoidable.
Further criticism came from Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, President of the Jordan Football Association, who accused FIFA of creating circumstances that amounted to “blackmail” in relation to outstanding prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election bid.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from European football. UEFA recently announced that it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, while several national football associations, including Wales, have withdrawn their backing for another term. Reports also suggest that England could take a similar position.
Discontent has extended to FIFA’s internal leadership. In a memo circulated to staff, Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom reportedly described the events surrounding the failed proposal as a regrettable and difficult episode for the organisation.
Adding to the criticism, FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour reportedly said the proposed private investment initiative was driven by a single individual, claiming that members of the organisation’s administration had been misled during the process.