By Gianni Infantino has apologised to the FIFA Council for his controversial World Cup sell-off plan — but was told bluntly that he is not fit to lead FIFA unless he releases all documents and answers key questions about the secret proposal.
Gianni Infantino (Credits: BBC Sport)
Three-and-a-Half-Hour Council Showdown in Zurich
The FIFA Council met in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since Infantino’s secret FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal came to light. Under the now-scrapped plan, a portion of football’s world governing body’s commercial rights would have been handed to a private investment firm. In a marathon three-and-a-half-hour session, Infantino also faced questions about US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspended red-card ban, the FIFA Peace Prize, and funding for national associations.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a FIFA vice-president, said afterwards that many questions remained unanswered — including requests for the FFE papers. In her blunt assessment, if Infantino does not answer the council’s questions, “he’s not fit to be FIFA president — and that was what was shared in the meeting.” She acknowledged “some contrition” in his apology, adding: “What he really apologised for was not bringing it to the council. If you regret it that deeply, share it with us.”
UEFA Unmoved, Re-Election Fight Looms
UEFA, European football’s governing body, has been one of Infantino’s fiercest critics, repeatedly calling on him to stand down. It has prepared criminal legal proceedings against him and lodged claims in three US courts for the release of all FFE-related documents. Asked if UEFA’s stance had shifted, Hewitt said flatly: “nothing has shifted.”
Infantino, who celebrated 10 years as FIFA president in February 2026, will stand for re-election for a third time in March — and no credible challenger has yet emerged, despite senior European figures reportedly wanting Arsene Wenger to run. With the candidacy deadline of November 18 approaching, UEFA and Infantino’s opponents must find a candidate to put on the ballot against a man re-elected unopposed in both 2019 and 2023.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
