Gianni Infantino is refusing to step down as FIFA president, despite a firestorm of criticism over his failed 'Fifa Forward Enterprise' (FFE) proposal—a scheme that would have sold off stakes in major tournaments to private investors.
Following a meeting in Morocco, FIFA’s management board issued a statement reaffirming their support for the embattled leader, even as internal dissent and external pressure from UEFA continue to mount.
Infantino and his secretary general, Mattias Grafstrom, issued a signed apology to member associations, admitting that the process was handled poorly and that stakeholders were excluded. However, the organization is now pivoting to a defensive posture, warning that it will no longer tolerate 'attacks' on its reputation.
The scandal, which involved secret negotiations to sell commercial rights to Joshua Kushner, has alienated key partners, including UEFA, which has publicly lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
While critics like Luis Figo have called for his immediate resignation, Infantino is leveraging his established power base in Africa and Asia—regions that have benefited from his FIFA Forward funding—to secure his position ahead of the 2027 election.
With his senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro having already resigned over the debacle, Infantino now faces the difficult task of restoring credibility to a governing body that many believe he has debased.
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