## Gianni Infantino Apologizes Over FIFA World Cup Privatization Plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has apologized to members of the FIFA Council over a controversial proposal to privatize commercial rights to the World Cup. However, questions about the plan remain unanswered, and the episode continues to draw scrutiny as Infantino prepares to seek another term as FIFA president.
The apology came during a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday. It was the Council’s first gathering since FIFA announced and quickly abandoned the proposal.
## What Was FIFA’s World Cup Privatization Plan?
The proposal centered on FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a planned subsidiary that would have controlled commercial rights to the men’s and women’s World Cups, as well as the Club World Cups. FFE was valued at approximately $20 billion, with FIFA considering selling minority stakes to private investors.
One potential investor was Thrive Eternal, the investment firm of venture capitalist Joshua Kushner. The proposal faced criticism after details became public in July and was dropped within days. A legal dispute over the plan is now underway in the United States.
FIFA told Council members it had provided an update on the legal background behind FFE. Infantino also answered questions during the meeting and asked members to submit additional queries in writing.
## Council Members Give Mixed Reactions to Infantino’s Apology
Reactions from FIFA Council members were divided. Ahmed Yahya, president of Mauritania’s football federation, said he considered Infantino the “right president” and believed most FIFA member associations agreed.
Others were less convinced. German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf said he had no confidence in Infantino. England Football Association chairwoman Debbie Hewitt said the president had not provided sufficient answers.
Hewitt said she had repeatedly requested documents related to FFE but had not received them. She argued that Council members needed the information to understand how the proposal was developed and whether FIFA’s conduct should change.
Although Hewitt acknowledged “some contrition” in Infantino’s apology, she said it did not alter her view of his potential re-election.
## FIFA Considers Changes to Funding and Governance
Infantino sought to address concerns about the FFE proposal, including by agreeing to establish a working group to review FIFA’s governance procedures.
FIFA also proposed increasing the funding distributed to its 211 member associations. If approved, associations could receive up to $25 million over the next four-year cycle.
The funding proposal comes after criticism from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. Those organizations argued that FIFA should use its existing reserves to support football projects around the world rather than rely on a new commercial entity such as FFE.
## Other FIFA Decisions Add to the Pressure
The FFE controversy is not the only issue facing Infantino. FIFA has also faced criticism over its decision to lift the one-match suspension given to U.S. men’s national team player Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. The suspension was removed under a rarely used rule before the United States’ round-of-16 defeat to Belgium.
The decision attracted attention after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had called Infantino to ask him to review FIFA’s established rules. FIFA’s legal team is reviewing the disciplinary procedures involved in the case and is expected to present its findings at the Council’s next meeting in December.
Council members have also asked questions about FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize, which was awarded to Trump at last year’s World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. FIFA’s Social Responsibility Committee will assess the award before the Council decides in December whether it will be given again.
Hewitt said the FFE proposal, the Balogun case and the Peace Prize all raised concerns about decisions made outside FIFA’s usual governance procedures. She said Council members needed more information before they could judge whether those decisions were appropriate.
## Infantino’s Re-Election Bid Faces Continued Scrutiny
Infantino is seeking his fourth and final term in the March election, which will take place during the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco. Former Switzerland international Ramon Vega is currently his only opponent. Prospective candidates have until November 18 to declare their interest.
The FIFA Council’s questions, the ongoing legal dispute over FFE and the reviews of other controversial decisions are likely to remain central to debate around Infantino’s leadership. For now, his apology has acknowledged the concerns, but it has not resolved them.