Gianni Infantino will continue as Fifa president following a meeting with senior executives in Morocco, despite facing widespread criticism over his controversial private investment scheme. The Fifa leadership board convened in Rabat on Wednesday and subsequently issued a statement expressing their continued support for the organisation’s leader.
In response to mounting backlash, Infantino issued a formal apology for errors committed during the development of his proposal to sell stakes in major competitions to private investors. A joint letter signed by Infantino and Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom acknowledged mistakes in the handling of the initiative and pledged that such lapses would not occur again. The governing body conceded that key stakeholders felt excluded from the decision-making process and that the matter should have been managed differently.
The Swiss official faces considerable opposition to his potential re-election bid, including public statements of no confidence from European football’s governing body and several national associations. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and former footballer Luis Figo have also called for Infantino to step down. Despite this pressure, the 56-year-old is expected to pursue a fourth term, with potential rivals having until November to declare their candidacy ahead of next year’s Fifa Congress election in Morocco.
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