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FIFA president Gianni Infantino apologised for the abandoned private investment proposal in premium competitions during a closed-door meeting in Zurich.
Gianni Infantino attends the opening game of the Women’s U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina (Picture credit: AP)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino apologised for the failed attempt to attract private investors to the organisation’s premium competitions but failed to provide satisfactory answers to questions raised by senior officials, members of the governing body’s Council said on Thursday.
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association (DFB) and a FIFA Council member, said the closed-door meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich did not address several key concerns surrounding the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
“We asked a great many critical questions, but there were no satisfactory answers from my point of view,” Neuendorf said.
Infantino announced in late July that FIFA was exploring ways to open major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investment. The proposal faced strong opposition from several confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, forcing FIFA to abandon the initiative.
Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association and a FIFA vice-president, said Infantino apologised at the start of Thursday’s meeting.
“I think it is fair to say Gianni apologised at the beginning for what had happened, and he said that with some contrition,” Hewitt said. She added that Council members had spoken candidly about their concerns.
FIFA later confirmed in a statement that Infantino had apologised for “the mistakes made in terms of how the project was conducted and communicated”. He also assured members that the FFE initiative had been permanently withdrawn and would not return in any form.
However, Hewitt said the meeting had not changed her position on the controversy. She added that members had not received documents they had specifically requested about the proposal and questioned why the information had not been provided.
“From my position nothing has shifted,” she said, adding that she had received no new information to change her views, apart from Infantino’s apology and his promise to provide the requested material.
The controversy has prompted several prominent European football associations to withdraw their support for Infantino ahead of next March’s FIFA presidential election. Other concerns include his relationship with US President Donald Trump, the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Trump at last December’s World Cup draw, and the suspension of a ban involving US striker Folarin Balogun after Trump reportedly intervened by calling Infantino.
Despite calls for him to step down, Infantino is seeking re-election. No major challenger has emerged so far, with the deadline for submitting candidacies set for November 18.
Meanwhile, FIFA confirmed plans to establish a $6.35-billion development fund for the 2026-2030 cycle. The proposal is expected to be finalised at the Council’s next meeting in December.
The fund would distribute money to FIFA’s 211 member associations and regional confederations, drawing partly on the organisation’s financial reserves following the commercially successful 2026 World Cup. The plan includes payments of $25 million to each member association.
The initiative could strengthen Infantino’s position ahead of the election as FIFA prepares to expand financial support for its members.
(With AFP Inputs)
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Ask News18Gianni Infantino apologized for mistakes made regarding how the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) investment proposal was conducted and communicated, assuring members it has been permanently withdrawn.
Ask News18October 16, 2026, 00:02 IST
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