Fifa president Gianni Infantino has apologised to the Fifa Council over his secret plan to sell off part of the organisation’s commercial rights but faced demands to release all documents and answer questions before he can be considered fit to lead. The council met in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal came to light.
Under the FFE plan, which Infantino withdrew within days, a share of Fifa’s commercial rights would have been handed over to a private investment firm. The move sparked immediate controversy and criticism, particularly from Uefa, European football’s governing body, which has called for Infantino to step down and launched legal actions to obtain all documents related to the proposal.
During the three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Infantino also faced questions over US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspended red-card ban, the Fifa Peace Prize, and funding for national associations. Debbie Hewitt, chair of the Football Association and a Fifa vice-president, said many questions remained unanswered after the meeting.
“One of the disappointing things is that we didn’t get answers to anything that we had specifically requested – for example getting the papers from FFE,” Hewitt said. “I asked the question ‘why not?’ – and we were asked to submit those questions in writing.”
She added: “I think the man has to answer those questions and if he doesn’t answer those questions now, he’s not fit to be Fifa president – and that was what was shared in the meeting.”
Hewitt acknowledged that Infantino showed “some contrition” in his apology. “What he really apologised for was not bringing it to the council. If you regret it that deeply, share it with us,” she said.
Uefa, which has been one of Infantino’s fiercest critics throughout his presidency, has prepared criminal legal proceedings against him and lodged claims in three US courts demanding the release of all FFE documents.
Asked if there had been any change in Uefa’s stance towards Infantino, Hewitt said: “From my position, nothing has shifted. I’ve no new information that makes me feel any differently, other than we do have a president who is apologetic.”
Infantino is due to stand for re-election as Fifa president for a third time in March next year. So far, no credible challenger has emerged. Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham and Switzerland defender, has declared his intention to run but is unlikely to secure the required five letters of support from member associations to mount a serious campaign.
Senior figures within European football have suggested former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as a potential candidate, but it remains unclear if Wenger would be willing to leave his current role as Fifa’s global head of football development to challenge Infantino.
Hewitt said it was important for Uefa and other opponents to find a candidate to contest the election. “I think it’s important to Gianni to have somebody who stands with a different M.anifest, and good for Fifa to have that choice,” she said. “We’re in a democracy here. We must remember there are 211 associations and it’s really important that all 211 associations have opportunity to vote according to how they feel.”
The deadline for candidates to submit their names is 18 November.
According to BBC Sports.
