FIFA Apologises to Members as Infantino Holds Crisis Meeting

A Crisis of Leadership for FIFA President Gianni Infantino

FIFA's leadership has been plunged into crisis after the governing body's president, Gianni Infantino, was accused of poor governance and a lack of consultation over a proposal to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial rights entity to private investors. The proposal, which would have raised about $4.2 billion for football development, was withdrawn last week after fierce criticism from European soccer's governing body UEFA and other stakeholders.

Infantino's leadership has been questioned by many, including UEFA Vice-President Laura McAllister, who told Reuters that the controversy surrounding the abandoned proposal had brought the FIFA president's leadership to a crisis point. The criticism has been led by UEFA, which accused Infantino of selling the soul of the game and has said it no longer has confidence in his leadership.

Infantino has always enjoyed a lot of support away from the traditional heartlands of the game, where impoverished football associations rely on FIFA's largesse to operate. However, the criticism from UEFA and other stakeholders has cast a shadow over Infantino's re-election for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March, which had looked like a foregone conclusion two months ago.

A handful of European federations have withdrawn their backing for the Swiss Italian, but perhaps more damaging are the messages coming from Infantino's FIFA colleagues. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also questioned Infantino's leadership on Wednesday, saying he has lost confidence in the FIFA president after learning senior advisers had not been consulted on the abandoned proposal.

The Fallout from the Abandoned Proposal

The abandoned proposal has had a significant impact on Infantino's leadership, with many questioning his ability to lead the organisation. The proposal, which was seen as a way to raise funds for football development, was withdrawn after fierce criticism from UEFA and other stakeholders.

Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest at the plan last week, and Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of Global Football Development, said he had not been involved in drafting the proposal, and called the decision to withdraw it 'absolutely necessary'. Former Portugal great Luis Figo, who had planned to run for the FIFA presidency in 2015, said Infantino should resign over the affair.

The Road Ahead for Infantino

Infantino has spent the past week in Morocco, which will co-host the World Cup in 2030 and whose football association has announced its continued support for him. The meeting was widely seen as an effort to reinforce support for Infantino and ensure that he emerges from the crisis with enough backing to remain the favourite for re-election in March.

An Extraordinary Congress could be called if 43 or more FIFA member associations make a formal written request for one. Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines have declared their loyalty to Infantino. Infantino has always enjoyed a lot of support away from the traditional heartlands of the game, where impoverished football associations rely on FIFA's largesse to operate.