Gianni Infantino has apologised to the FIFA Council over his controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup revenues, but the admission has done little to ease calls for him to leave football’s governing body.
Speaking after a three-hour council meeting in Zurich on Thursday, the FIFA president expressed regret over the way he handled the proposal, which was abandoned following fierce opposition from several football confederations.
However, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt and other European football leaders remain dissatisfied, with demands for greater transparency and accountability threatening to overshadow Infantino’s efforts to secure a fourth term as FIFA president.
The dispute has become a defining test of his leadership, with opponents insisting that an apology cannot replace answers to questions about the proposed deal and other contentious decisions taken during his tenure.
‘Not fit to be FIFA president’
Hewitt made clear that European football’s concerns had not been resolved by Infantino’s expression of regret.
The FA chair said council members were still waiting for answers to questions they had raised about FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the proposed commercial venture behind the World Cup sell off, and the decision to suspend the one-match ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun.
The Balogun case has attracted scrutiny following reports that US President Donald Trump contacted Infantino before the suspension of the ban.
Speaking to reporters in Zurich, Hewitt said “The man has to answer those questions, and if he doesn’t answer those questions, no, he’s not fit to be FIFA president, and that was what was shared in the meeting.
“He’s told us to submit those questions. There were so many of them, and now it’s up to him to do that, and do that in the open way.”
Her comments underline the depth of frustration among critics who believe the FIFA president must provide a fuller account of decisions that have raised questions about transparency and governance.
Infantino’s apology focused on the communication and consultation process surrounding the proposed sale, particularly his failure to inform the council earlier. It did not, however, settle the wider dispute over the commercial terms of the plan.
Why the World Cup sell-off caused a crisis
It.The controversy centred on FIFA’s proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new structure intended to bring together the sale of the organisation’s commercial rights.
It included broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing and the operational delivery of its tournaments
Under the plan, Infantino sought backing from football associations for the sale of a 20 per cent stake in future FIFA tournament revenues to private investors.
According to Sky Sports, member associations were given until September 19 to support the proposals, with a reported £30.1 million incentive attached to their acceptance.
The plan faced strong resistance from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, with concerns about the proposed valuation and the potential long-term consequences of selling a stake in FIFA’s commercial interests.
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The proposal was subsequently abandoned, but its collapse has not ended the dispute.
UEFA wants FIFA to release documents relating to the scheme, arguing that the proposed stake may have been undervalued. European football leaders have also pursued legal avenues to obtain the records, according to Sky Sports.
Their demand is now focused on seeing the figures, the terms of the negotiations and the details behind a proposal that could have affected FIFA’s commercial structure for years to come.
For Infantino’s critics, the central issue is no longer simply whether the plan will proceed. It is whether the circumstances surrounding its development and eventual abandonment have been adequately explained.
Infantino’s re-election plans face scrutiny
The dispute comes as Infantino prepares for FIFA’s presidential election in Morocco in March 2027.
He is seeking a fourth term and hopes to secure re-election without a challenger, having faced no opposition in the previous two presidential elections, according to Sky Sports.
UEFA, however, still wants to put forward a candidate to contest his position, amid wider dissatisfaction with his leadership.
Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, ex-Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder Luís Figo, and Washington Spirit, Lyon and London City Lionesses owner Michelle Kang have been mentioned as possible challengers.
Wenger, FIFA’s global football development chief since 2019, criticised the proposed World Cup sell-off in August but has shown no public interest in replacing Infantino.
His long-standing role within FIFA could also complicate any potential challenge. Figo, meanwhile, has publicly called for Infantino’s resignation in the wake of the controversy.
His profile in international football could make him a potential candidate, although his relationship with UEFA as an adviser since 2017 may shape the extent of any support he could attract.
Kang has also been mentioned as a possible contender, but there has been no indication in the report that she is preparing a campaign.
Anyone seeking to challenge Infantino must declare their candidacy by November 18, leaving a limited period for a potential rival to emerge before the election.
More questions await FIFA
The World Cup sell off is not the only matter awaiting further scrutiny.
FIFA’s Legal Committee is due to review disciplinary procedures following the controversy surrounding Balogun’s suspended ban, while the organisation’s Football Social Responsibility Committee is assessing the FIFA Peace Prize, which Infantino presented to Trump in December 2025.
The findings on both matters are expected to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting in December.
FIFA has also proposed increasing planned funding under its FIFA Surplus Solidarity Programme to $6.35 billion for the 2027–2030 period, including around $25 million for each member association. That proposal is also due for examination in December.
The agenda means Infantino’s next council meeting could prove important in determining how FIFA responds to several unresolved questions surrounding his administration.
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