FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Meet Senior Officials in Rabat
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is scheduled to sit down with senior leaders of world football’s governing body in Morocco on Wednesday. The meeting comes as opposition to his leadership intensifies after the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell FIFA’s commercial and event operations.
Background of the Abandoned Commercial Plan
The initiative, which aimed to privatize parts of FIFA’s business, fell apart amid widespread criticism. FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom circulated an internal memo to staff describing the episode as “a sad and reproachable series of events” that were hard to accept.
Who Will Attend the Rabat Meeting?
The gathering will take place at FIFA’s Africa office in Rabat and is expected to include finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, head of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson.
Reactions from Football Stakeholders
While the official agenda has not been disclosed, observers believe Infantino will use the meeting to mend strained relationships and bolster support for his re‑election bid.
Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger stated he had no involvement in the plan and called its cancellation “absolutely necessary.” Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali accused FIFA of leveraging unpaid prize money to exert pressure, describing the situation as tantamount to blackmail.
Growing Opposition Across Confederations
UEFA has publicly said it no longer trusts Infantino, and several member associations — including Wales — have withdrawn their backing for another term. England is anticipated to follow suit.
Internal dissent has also surfaced. Grafstrom’s memo to staff labelled the past week difficult to comprehend, while FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour labelled the abandoned investment proposal “the project of one person” and claimed the administration had been misled.
