Rabat: Infantino faces executives amid criticism over scrapped investment plan

By Arjun Nair / 05.08.2026

By Arjun Nair — 5 August 2026 — 4 min read

Fifa President Gianni Infantino is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of football’s world governing body in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday. This meeting comes amidst intensifying criticism of his recently abandoned plan to sell off Fifa’s commercial and event operations. Reports suggest Infantino has been in Salé, near Rabat, this week, attempting to secure his presidency.

The gathering follows a highly critical internal memo sent to Fifa staff by Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom. Infantino subsequently summoned members of the Fifa management board to Morocco. Chief of global football development Arsene Wenger also distanced himself from Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, stating that aborting it was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”

Mounting Opposition and Key Questions

Opposition to Infantino’s leadership has grown, with Uefa expressing a loss of confidence. Several member associations, including Wales, have withdrawn their support for his re-election, with England reportedly set to follow. Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, accused Fifa of creating a situation amounting to “blackmail” concerning unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election. These claims have not been verified, and Fifa has not commented.

The meeting is understood to be taking place at Fifa’s Africa office in Rabat. Attendees are expected to include Grafstrom, finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson. The intention of the meeting is unclear, but it is anticipated that Infantino will try to mend relationships and find a way to remain president.

However, this path may not be straightforward. Kevin Lamour, Fifa’s chief operating officer, stated that the private investment plan was “the project of one person” and that Fifa’s own administration was “deceived.” Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the plan, calling it “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”

Cordeiro raised several fundamental questions that Infantino is likely to face, including the rationale behind the deal, the timing, oversight mechanisms, beneficiaries, the competitive process, governance structures, and the ultimate cost to football. Member associations had been given a deadline of 19 September to approve the plan or risk losing additional funding.

Potential Outcomes and Future Steps

It appears unlikely that Infantino will resign from his position by the end of Wednesday, as he has shown no indication of relinquishing his role and has been attempting to rally support. African countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo have issued statements in his support. However, he will need to address serious questions regarding what has been described as a controversial week for Fifa.

If Infantino chooses to continue, Uefa and other confederations may explore alternative methods to remove him. One option is for the Fifa Council to call an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of the 37 council members to request it. Doubts exist, however, about whether the necessary 19 votes could be secured.

Another avenue is an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations, which could be triggered if one-fifth, or 43 associations, make a written request. Uefa, with 55 nations, has the capacity to initiate such a congress, though it would take a minimum of two to three months to convene. This would effectively be a de facto election, requiring 106 votes for a vote of no confidence to pass.

Infantino stood unopposed in his re-elections in 2019 and 2023. If a candidate wishes to challenge him for the presidency, the deadline to announce their candidacy is 18 November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered a potential unity candidate to stand against Infantino.

The choice of Morocco for the meeting is notable, as it is considered friendly territory for Infantino, with the country’s national football association having expressed support for him. Infantino is reportedly hoping to be re-elected for a fourth term at next year’s congress.

The situation highlights a broader historical context of challenges within football governance. Over a decade ago, the late Lord Triesman, a former FA chair, described Fifa as a “mafia family.” Critics argue that the organisation often operates beyond conventional political or economic boundaries, adhering to its own rules and moral code, maintained through a system of tribute and protection rather than popular consent. The current unrest follows years of concerns, including issues surrounding the Qatar World Cup and the bidding process for the 2034 tournament.

The moral objections to Infantino’s investment plan are evident, but its economic aspects have also been questioned. Critics point to a single buyer, a specific financial figure, and an artificial deadline of 19 September as indicators of economic illiteracy. The current events suggest a significant challenge to Infantino’s leadership, with the outcome of the meeting in Rabat potentially shaping the future direction of Fifa.

Source: theguardian.com