Gianni Infantino just issued a huge apology to the FIFA Council in Zurich, Switzerland, trying to finally put the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan to bed. This whole mess has been brewing since right after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it looks like it finally blew up in his face.
The Secret Deal That Blew Up In Infantino’s Face
So, what was this FFE plan all about? Apparently, Infantino wanted to sell off shares in a new business, a whole enterprise specifically set up to run the commercial side of every future World Cup. Can you believe it? The plan even had American entrepreneur Josh Kushner lined up to invest. But when The Times reporter Martyn Ziegler spilled the beans, the backlash was absolutely massive. Everyone from multiple FIFA confederations to executives worldwide started yelling, and for good reason. People were furious because it looked like Infantino was just trying to sell football to the highest bidder, and the fact that he tried to develop this whole thing in complete secrecy just made it worse. Ultimately, the plan got completely scrapped, never to see the light of day.
An Apology and a Baffling Show of Support
According to Ahmed Yahya, who’s not only a FIFA Council member but also the president of the Mauritania football association, Infantino actually apologized for the failed plan. Yahya said, “After finally withdrawing this proposal, President Gianni Infantino apologised to the members of the Executive Committee.” He went on to describe a “responsible debate” where the issue was “more or less shelved” and everyone agreed to “look ahead.” FIFA even put out a statement confirming the FFE plan is “permanently withdrawn and will not reappear in any form,” which is a pretty strong commitment. They also had “positive” talks about Infantino’s separate plan to dish out $6 billion in funding to all 211 member associations.
Here’s the wild part: Despite this massive commercial flop, Yahya is still totally backing Infantino for the upcoming presidential election. He’s talking up Infantino’s “good ideas,” like expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, which he calls “vital for world football.” Yahya clearly believes in the guy, saying, “I’ve said that President Gianni Infantino is taking football forward worldwide. I come from the African continent and know what I’m talking about. He wants to promote football; he wants everyone to be involved, and that is precisely why we expanded the World Cup to 48 teams , and that is exactly what has delivered results.” He even doubled down, stating, “I am certain that Gianni Infantino is the right president… The majority want Gianni Infantino to stay.”
So, while Infantino was busy apologizing for one big mess, he was also chatting about US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspended red-card ban from the World Cup, the FIFA Peace Prize, and funding for national associations, all crammed into a three-and-a-half-hour meeting. But a BBC report also notes that “not everyone was impressed with the responses given.” Sounds like there’s still some serious drama bubbling under the surface as that presidential election gets closer. You gotta wonder if this apology will be enough to keep everyone happy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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