On August 5, FIFA’s leadership convened an urgent internal crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco. According to a statement released after the talks, several senior officials within the organization’s governing body voiced their unwavering support for President Gianni Infantino.
The letter, signed jointly by Infantino and Secretary General格拉夫斯特伦, acknowledged that “mistakes were made” in rolling out the World Cup investment initiative, and offered a public apology for the associated errors.
This marks Infantino’s first public mea culpa since he announced—and then abruptly scrapped—a plan to sell stakes in major tournaments like the World Cup to private investors. FIFA stated it would conduct the necessary reviews and submit a report at the next regular meeting of the FIFA Council. The organization also pledged to strengthen internal governance in a bid to restore external confidence.
Shortly afterward, Infantino took to Instagram with a similar message, posting a photo of himself seated beside格拉夫斯特伦, flashing a thumbs-up.
Infantino’s proposed commercial subsidiary scheme drew fierce backlash from continental confederations across the globe—except for Africa—and was ultimately withdrawn. The episode put his presidency under serious threat. A senior FIFA advisor also resigned in protest over Infantino’s conduct. Reports suggest he even exploited loopholes in personnel rules to land an executive role at that subsidiary after stepping down, allegedly to pocket more financial gains.
European fan groups and Spanish football organizations have recently demanded his resignation in quick succession, while 72 members of the European Parliament have jointly called for an investigation into him. If Infantino refuses to step aside, UEFA is reportedly prepared to push a vote of no confidence against him.
Portuguese legend Luís Figo, in a piece published earlier that day, urged Infantino to step down immediately, describing his behavior as the most despicable, hypocritical, and cowardly act of selfishness he had ever witnessed—insisting that FIFA should not tolerate such a person at its helm.
Infantino’s current term is set to run until 2027. He announced his bid for re-election back in May, and so far, he remains the only declared candidate.
The Serbian Football Association issued a statement revoking its earlier endorsement of Infantino’s re-election next year. On May 25, the association had formally backed his bid in writing. However, after carefully assessing a string of recent events that have “seriously damaged the reputation of FIFA and its president,” the association decided to pull its support, calling it the “only logical and rational choice.”
UEFA has already declared a boycott of all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Widely regarded as global football’s financial engine, UEFA’s tournaments—like the Champions League and the European Championship—generate commercial and broadcast revenues that far exceed most FIFA events. The Euros are often dubbed the “mini World Cup” for good reason.
Among FIFA’s 211 member associations, 43 votes in favor of a no-confidence motion would be enough to trigger removal proceedings. UEFA alone controls 55 member associations.
Born in 1970, Infantino holds dual Swiss and Italian citizenship. He joined UEFA’s marketing division in 2000. On February 26, 2016, he was elected FIFA’s ninth president, and has since been re-elected twice.
Under his watch, FIFA’s overall revenue doubled and reserve funds grew significantly. He also championed the expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams. During the current commercial cycle, FIFA’s total revenue surpassed $15 billion—nearly double the previous cycle.
Infantino has been a vocal advocate for exploring the feasibility of expanding the World Cup finals from 48 to 64 teams. However, heads of several confederations, including UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation, argue that further expansion would dilute the competitive quality of the tournament and pile more strain on players’ already congested schedules.
Ahead of this year’s World Cup, Infantino faced an investigation by FIFA’s ethics committee over his close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, with multiple organizations filing complaints that he repeatedly breached FIFA’s principle of political neutrality. Infantino, however, maintains that building a friendly rapport with host-country leaders is essential for the FIFA president.
British newspaper The Times reported that after the latest crisis erupted, Infantino made multiple calls to Trump in an attempt to shore up his position as FIFA president, but received no response.
Additionally, Infantino has been accused of funneling hefty financial support to football associations in economically underdeveloped regions, such as parts of Africa, in exchange for their voting support. In 2021, his push to hold the World Cup every two years was met with industry-wide resistance led by UEFA.