FIFA president Gianni Infantino apologized to council members in Zurich on October 15 over his abandoned World Cup investment plan, AP reported. European officials remained dissatisfied, saying their demands for information had not been met.
Reuters reported that the proposal involved selling a minority stake in a FIFA commercial subsidiary to private investors led by a company founded by Joshua Kushner. Announced in July, the project collapsed within days amid opposition from football leaders.
According to AP, Infantino supplied no documents about the $4.2 billion proposal at Thursday’s meeting. FIFA vice president Debbie Hewitt said he asked colleagues to send written questions after discussions lasting three and a half hours. German football chief Bernd Neuendorf said the answers were unsatisfactory.
The dispute concerns how football’s governing body makes major commercial decisions. Reuters reported that the leaders of UEFA, Asia’s AFC and CONCACAF had called for Infantino to leave. Opponents also sought limits on his authority if removing him proved impossible.
Support remains divided. AP reported that Mauritanian federation president Ahmed Yahya backed Infantino’s continued leadership. Reuters had reported support from African officials and several Asian countries, showing that criticism from continental leaders does not necessarily represent every national association.
Attention now turns to the requested explanations and the presidential election in March 2027. Reuters said prospective candidates face a November 18 nomination deadline. FIFA’s published agenda confirmed the October 15 council session; AP’s account of the meeting indicates that the apology did not resolve the dispute.
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