Embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino has the “full support” of the FIFA secretary general and members of the FIFA management board, soccer’s governing body announced in a statement, while also seeming to send a message to its critics.
The statement came following a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday and came amid the fallout of Infantino’s failed plan to sell off stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment, officially known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
The massive backlash to the plan, which included UEFA and its 55 member nations threatening to boycott the World Cup over it, was the latest controversy that had the FIFA prez back on his heels.
Wednesday’s statement was meant to try to quell some of the controversy and, in part, said that the meeting in Morocco will “strengthen FIFA’s governance, help restore confidence in the organization and enable us to prepare for the major events and challenges ahead in a united and transparent manner.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and president of the Moroccan Royal Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa attend a Women’s AFCON 2026 soccer match between Malawi and Zambia in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. AP Photo/STR
Infantino took to his own social media accounts to post a similar statement and claim that the members in attendance had “fully upheld support” for him and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström.
Both the FIFA statement and Infantino’s social media post also included a defiant message to those who have criticized them.
“We also agreed that FIFA will not tolerate any attacks on its integrity and will take all necessary measures to defend its reputation,” Infantino wrote on Instagram, with the statement using similar language.
Infantino has been facing mounting pressure in the wake of the FFE, which has come from across the global spectrum.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino leaves after attending a Women AFCON 2026 soccer match between Malawi and Zambia on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco. AP Photo/STR
UEFA has called on Infantino to go, and the Football Association of Wales has already withdrawn its letter of support for his reelection as FIFA president next year, and England is set to do the same.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly gave a vote of no confidence for Infantino on Wednesday and called the pulled plan “fatal.”
“It should be fatal,” Carney said. “Certainly I don’t have confidence in Mr. Infantino.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham labeled Infantino the “wrong man to lead” global soccer.
Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the president of the Jordanian Football Association, made a blistering accusation against Infantino and FIFA of attempting to “blackmail” the JFA into supporting Infantino’s reelection bid.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump present the FIFA World Cup Trophy to Spain after the team defeated Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Ayman Aref/JNA via ZUMA / SplashNews.com
FIFA’s statement Wednesday did not directly address the criticisms, but attempted to smooth over the anger over the FFE proposal by acknowledging mistakes.
“The meeting also addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, where mistakes made were acknowledged,” the statement read. “It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA council and FIFA member associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently. It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.
“In a separate letter to the FIFA council and FIFA member associations, an apology was made for these errors together with a commitment to ensure they do not happen again. A review will now be conducted, and a report will be presented to the FIFA council at its next scheduled meeting.”
