FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologized for his attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup, but backlash from the European football community continues.
According to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, Infantino issued his apology during a FIFA Council meeting held in Zurich, Switzerland, on October 15.
The FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise) initiative, valued at $4.2 billion, was set to have investors led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law, acquire more than 20% of the stake. Infantino withdrew the plan in July following strong opposition from European football.
After a closed-door meeting that lasted three and a half hours, Infantino did not address the media directly. Instead, in a video statement released by FIFA, he said, "I apologized for the mistakes we made in communication and consultation regarding the FFE project, and the many consequences that arose from it," adding, "It was merely a proposal and never a finalized matter."
Representatives from European football expressed their disappointment towards Infantino for not providing relevant documents. They were also dissatisfied with his failure to explain the circumstances surrounding the suspension of U.S. player Folarin Balogun's red card penalty, which was reportedly postponed due to President Trump's intervention.
Balogun received a direct red card for stepping on an opponent's ankle during the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 North American World Cup. Although he was initially suspended for the next match, FIFA unusually postponed the penalty for 12 months, allowing him to participate in the Round of 16 against Belgium. This decision raised fairness concerns regarding FIFA.
Additionally, the Council discussed amendments to disciplinary regulations to prevent the suspension from being postponed in cases of automatic red cards.
Debbie Hewitt, the FA Chair and FIFA Vice President, stated, "If there is nothing to hide, then the FFE documents should be shared with us," adding, "Infantino must answer the questions. If he does not, he is unfit to serve as FIFA President."
FIFA, in a separate statement, noted that details of the FFE remain confidential due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United States.
According to the AP, UEFA has filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court to gather evidence for a potential criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland. UEFA's court filings allege that Infantino may have mismanaged FIFA's finances during the valuation process of the FFE subsidiary.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco, with the deadline for candidate nominations set for November 18.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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