Infantino apologizes over abandoned FIFA plan amid leadership criticism

Summary

Gianni Infantino apologized during a FIFA meeting over a proposed plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, which has since been abandoned. RFI reports that senior FIFA members said he gave no satisfactory answers when questioned about the plan, though he apologized for the failed project. The Japan Times says he apologized for mistakes in communication and consultation over the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, as England and Germany questioned his leadership; Al Jazeera reports the executive board meeting was held in Zurich amid calls for him to quit. POLITICO reports Infantino said the project was only a proposal, not a done deal.

Timeline

1. RFI

   15 Oct 2026, 15:57 UTCSource ↗

   RFI reports that senior FIFA members said Infantino gave no satisfactory answers when questioned about his effort to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, but did apologize for the failed project.

2. The Japan Times

   16 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTCSource ↗

   The Japan Times reports that Infantino apologized in a closed meeting for mistakes in communicating and consulting over the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise project, as England and Germany questioned his leadership.

3. Al Jazeera

   16 Oct 2026, 04:45 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that Infantino spoke at FIFA’s long-awaited executive board meeting in Zurich amid calls for him to quit as president.

4. POLITICO

   16 Oct 2026, 09:07 UTCSource ↗

   POLITICO reports that Infantino apologized to the FIFA Council for mistakes and said the project was only a proposal, not a done deal.