RABAT — FIFA President Gianni Infantino convened a crisis meeting with senior football officials on Thursday as world football's governing body sought to contain the fallout from its abandoned proposal to sell a minority stake in a new commercial entity overseeing World Cup-related rights, amid mounting criticism over the plan's handling and governance.
The emergency meeting in Morocco came days after FIFA withdrew the proposal following opposition from several continental confederations and national football associations, which argued they had not been adequately consulted before the initiative was unveiled.
The proposal would have created a new commercial company, valued at about $20 billion, with outside investors taking up to a 20% stake. FIFA had said the initiative would generate billions of dollars for football development while allowing the organization to retain control over sporting and governance decisions.
According to FIFA, Infantino acknowledged mistakes in the way the proposal had been presented and apologized to member associations for the controversy surrounding the process. Following the meeting, FIFA's leadership publicly reaffirmed its support for the president despite the political fallout generated by the failed initiative.
The stake-sale proposal prompted unusually strong resistance from UEFA, as well as criticism from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, with opponents raising concerns over transparency, governance and the commercialization of FIFA's flagship competitions. UEFA welcomed FIFA's subsequent decision to abandon the plan, describing the withdrawal as an important step after widespread opposition from football stakeholders.
The controversy has also intensified scrutiny of Infantino's leadership ahead of FIFA's next presidential election, scheduled for March 2027. Some European football associations have reportedly withdrawn their backing for his re-election bid, although no formal challenger has emerged. FIFA officials from Africa and parts of Asia have continued to express support for the president, according to people familiar with the discussions.
FIFA has rejected allegations that political commitments or future tournament hosting decisions were linked to efforts to build support for the commercial proposal. The organization said it would review its governance procedures and consultation processes to avoid similar disputes in the future.
The governing body has confirmed that the stake-sale proposal has been withdrawn and that discussions are now focused on strengthening internal governance and rebuilding confidence among its 211 member associations before any future structural commercial reforms are considered.
