Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, apologized on Thursday during a meeting of the organization's council in Zurich for his plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. In this meeting, he expressed regret for the mistakes made regarding the communication and consultation process related to this project, which has led to multiple consequences.
Details of the Stake Sale Plan
Infantino told reporters: "I apologized for the mistakes we made regarding this project. We had many discussions about this proposal, and it somewhat dominated the negotiations." He also clarified that this plan does not mean a final agreement and is merely a proposal aimed at increasing FIFA's investment in its member associations, not replacing existing support.
Reactions and Consequences
Thursday's meeting was the first time the FIFA council convened after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, and details of this controversial plan had recently been revealed. The proposal faced immediate negative reactions from football associations worldwide, with prominent figures such as the European Union Sports Commissioner, Glen McKailf, and the UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, also criticizing it.
This plan led some to call for Infantino's resignation from the FIFA presidency, while U.S. President Donald Trump defended him.
Internal Criticism
Debbie Hewitt, Vice President of the FIFA Council and President of the English Football Association, also expressed disappointment over the lack of sharing documents related to this plan with council members, stating that many questions remained unanswered after the meeting. She said, "I have repeatedly asked them to share the documents. Despite today's request, I have still received nothing."
During this three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Infantino was also pressured regarding the controversial decision to suspend the red card ban for American player, Folarin Balogun, during the summer competitions. FIFA announced that its legal committee would conduct reviews of its disciplinary procedures and "a presentation will also be made at the next FIFA council meeting in December 2026."
