A crucial meeting is set to take place at FIFA's African headquarters located within the Mohammed VI complex in Sale, near Rabat, as reported by a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity. This gathering is not open to the media, and no additional information has been disclosed regarding its agenda. A number of vehicles, including three small buses with tinted windows, were observed entering the complex by an AFP correspondent, indicating the presence of significant attendees.
The reasons behind Morocco being chosen as the host for this meeting remain unclear, especially considering the country's upcoming role in co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. This meeting comes amidst a backdrop of increasing scrutiny and opposition directed towards FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has been in charge of the international football governing body for the past decade. Recently, Infantino announced plans to establish an external company, FIFA Forward Enterprise, aimed at managing the federation's commercial activities and tournaments, including the World Cup, with private sector investors involved.
This proposal was unexpectedly revealed last Tuesday, only to be retracted later due to widespread disapproval from various football stakeholders, including UEFA. Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, who co-hosted the recent World Cup with the United States and Mexico, expressed his loss of trust in Infantino's leadership, stating, "I certainly no longer have confidence in Mr. Infantino at this stage, considering what has transpired." This sentiment reflects a broader wave of dissent against Infantino's recent initiatives, which have raised eyebrows within the football community.
In the days leading up to this meeting, several high-ranking FIFA officials have distanced themselves from Infantino, including Arsène Wenger, the current Director of Global Football Development, and Secretary General Matthias Grafström. Grafström expressed regret in a message to FIFA staff about the series of "unfortunate and unacceptable events" that fortunately led to the ultimate abandonment of Infantino's project. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's chief advisor, resigned last Friday, explicitly opposing the FIFA President's controversial plan.
The internal opposition within FIFA is compounded by external pressures, particularly from UEFA and CONCACAF, both of which have directly criticized Infantino following the collapse of his proposal. Last week, CONCACAF called for a "comprehensive reassessment" of Infantino's governance, while UEFA, which has hinted at the possibility of boycotting the World Cup to enforce its demands, stated it has "lost trust" in Infantino. In a formal message sent to FIFA, UEFA announced it is seriously considering legal action.
Currently, Infantino remains the only announced candidate for re-election as FIFA President in the elections scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat. The 56-year-old Italian-Swiss needs a majority of the votes from FIFA's 211 member associations to secure another four-year term. To date, a limited number of federations, including Finland, Wales, Serbia, and Sweden, have officially withdrawn their support for him. Allegations of coercion have also surfaced, with Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of the Jordan Football Association accusing Infantino of "extortion" in a post on X, stating that FIFA had refused assistance on various issues until it was suggested that his support for Infantino would significantly benefit his federation.
As reported by france24.com.
