FIFA has publicly apologised for the way Gianni Infantino’s controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal was handled, while reaffirming its backing for the embattled president following a high-level meeting in Morocco. The governing body acknowledged mistakes in the process that led to the failed plan but confirmed Infantino will remain in charge despite mounting criticism from inside and outside FIFA.
FIFA issues apology after Morocco summit
With pressure continuing to build following the collapse of the proposed World Cup investment scheme, Infantino convened a meeting of FIFA’s management board at the governing body’s Africa office in Rabat on Wednesday.Following the meeting, FIFA released a statement saying that the mistakes surrounding the FFE proposal had been acknowledged and admitting that the consultation process had not been handled appropriately.Referring to the now-abandoned proposal, FIFA said the “mistakes made were acknowledged” and accepted that the “process should have been handled differently.”The governing body added that it had also recognised mistakes made after details of the proposal became public, saying the organisation had learned important lessons from the episode.
Infantino and Grafström apologise to member associations
As part of the response, Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström jointly sent a letter to FIFA’s vice-presidents, Council members and all 211 member associations.According to the letter, seen by the BBC, the pair wrote that they “sincerely apologise” for the errors made and “commit to them not happening again.”FIFA also confirmed that the FFE proposal is now off the table.“There are always lessons to be learned, and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience,” the governing body said.
Board throws support behind FIFA president
Despite the controversy, FIFA’s senior leadership emerged from the Rabat meeting united behind Infantino.In its statement, the governing body confirmed that Grafström and members of the management board “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino as FIFA president.The backing is particularly significant after Grafström had distanced himself from the proposal earlier this week in an internal memo to FIFA staff, describing the controversy as a “sad and reproachable series of events.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, center, speaks to FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, left, sitting beside president of Moroccan Royal Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa as they attend a Women’s AFCON 2026 soccer match between Malawi and Zambia, in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo)
FIFA also said Infantino had reaffirmed his support for Grafström, and the two were later seen together attending a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat following the meeting, in what appeared to be a public display of unity after the crisis talks.
Fallout continues despite apology
The apology comes after FIFA withdrew the FFE proposal following widespread opposition from football’s governing bodies and member associations.The project had proposed raising approximately $4.2 billion by selling a 20% stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary that would have managed competitions including the men’s and women’s World Cups. The proposal valued the venture at around $20 billion, with Thrive Eternal, launched by Joshua Kushner, identified as the anchor investor.The plan triggered strong criticism across world football. UEFA described it as a “shabby, back room, opaque deal,” while several senior FIFA figures publicly distanced themselves from the proposal. Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said staff had been “deceived,” and FIFA’s chief of global football development Arsène Wenger stated that abandoning the proposal was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”
FIFA warns against attacks on its reputation
While acknowledging mistakes, FIFA also issued a warning over continued criticism of the organisation.The governing body said it “will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process” and would “take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.”While the Rabat meeting temporarily unified FIFA’s leadership behind Infantino, questions over his presidency have not disappeared. The FFE proposal has been abandoned, but the controversy continues to cast a shadow over FIFA ahead of next March’s presidential election, where Infantino is expected to seek a fourth term. Although the governing body’s senior management has now publicly backed him, criticism from several confederations, national associations and former players has continued in the wake of the failed proposal.
