FIFA's Emergency Meeting in Morocco: Acknowledgment of Mistakes and Support for Infantino
In a recent emergency meeting held in Morocco, FIFA officials, including Secretary General Matthias Grafstrom, expressed their support for Gianni Infantino despite escalating calls for his resignation following his controversial proposal to sell the commercial and operational rights to the FIFA World Cup. The meeting, which involved high-ranking officials from the governing body of football, concluded with a statement affirming that the outcomes would enhance FIFA's governance, restore trust in the organization, and prepare them for upcoming major events and challenges in a unified and transparent manner. The statement emphasized the ongoing mission to develop the game globally.
Infantino himself shared a similar message on Instagram, posting a picture of himself with Grafstrom, where he was seen giving a thumbs-up, symbolizing approval or satisfaction. The statement also addressed Infantino's contentious commercial proposal, which was quickly abandoned, admitting that "mistakes" had been made in the process. It was acknowledged that there was no intention to exclude the FIFA Council and member associations from this process, and there should have been a different approach taken, particularly after the proposal was leaked to the media.
Notably, former Portuguese star Luis Figo publicly stated earlier on the same day that Infantino, who is currently facing significant pressure and criticism, should "step down." In an opinion piece obtained by CNN and first published in the Daily Mail, Figo, who has a decorated career that includes four La Liga titles, a Champions League title, and the Ballon d'Or, described Infantino's actions as "the most deceptive and cowardly behavior stemming purely from self-interest that I have witnessed in my life."
As reported by arabic.cnn.com.
