FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino has made a decision on if he will fall on his sword on a day where secret offers, threats and documents have emerged.
Gianni Infantino has promised to fight on during a day where his grip on the FIFA presidency slipped further.
FIFA on Thursday morning issued a statement saying the football supremo still has the “full support” of the “the management board in attendance”.
However, world football’s governing body has also been forced to make a grovelling apology in acknowledging the ill-fated plot to sell off the World Cup to a private investment firm through the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) was a failure in judgment and execution.
The statement included Infantino’s first public apology since the saga began.
In the face of widespread revolt from some national federations, Infantino held emergency talks with FIFA directors in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday.
“The meeting also addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, where mistakes made were acknowledged,” FIFA said in a statement signed by Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.
It was an apparent backflip from Grafstrom, who this week sent a letter to FIFA staff lamenting the “sad and reproachable series of events” spearheaded by Infantino.
“It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently,” FIFA wrote.
“It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.
“In a separate letter to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations, an apology was made for these errors together with a commitment to ensure they do not happen again. A review will now be conducted, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.
“As previously communicated, the FFE proposal, which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table.”
The letter sent to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations has since been leaked to journalists.
The language used in the letter has caused a stir with Sky Sports senior football journalist Rob Harris noting the use of the term “management board in attendance” could suggest members who did not attend in person do not support Infantino.
BREAKING: Gianni Infantino & Mattias Grafström write in leaked letter:
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) August 5, 2026
"With the project withdrawn, FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation." pic.twitter.com/rGKcW0zFjP
Instead of falling on his sword, Infantino has come out swinging.
“With the project withdrawn, it was agreed that FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation,” the governing body stated.
“There are always lessons to be learned, and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience. In this instance, however, it is important to stress that, although mistakes were made, everything that was done was done in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework.”
Secret World Cup final offer to country
In a further sign the organisation has gone into combat mode, FIFA’s official social media account directly responded to a number of reports posted on X.
The most astonishing news came from leading football journalist Martyn Zeigler, who reported Infantino privately promised Moroccan football bosses the country would host the 2030 World Cup final if a public show of support for his leadership was made.
Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the saga began.
FIFA media responded to the reports by posting: “It is false and misleading to claim the FIFA President has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 Final. A decision will be made by FIFA in due course.”
Scripted letters sent to federations
Harris on Thursday also reported FIFA previously issued scripted letters to national federation bosses which — if signed — would have amounted to a blind public show of support for the FIFA executive.
The note, issued before the 2026 World Cup, offered words of support federations could consider using when making public comment.
According to Sky Sports, the letter pre-emptively provided the name and signature of the particular football association president the note was sent to.
The leaked documents are further signs of Infantino’s leadership being undermined from within.
Infantino humiliated as legend goes nuclear
Thursday morning’s meeting at FIFA’s Africa headquarters in the Mohammed VI complex in Sale, near Rabat, left Infantino more red-faced when desired displays of support from former players known as ‘FIFA Legends’ did not materialise.
His plea fell on deaf ears with one of those so-called “FIFA Legends”, former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Luis Figo, writing a scathing take down of the football tsar in a newspaper column.
“I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go,” Figo wrote in UK newspaper The Daily Mail.
“Believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game.
“But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.
“The man who would do that — the man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends — is a relic of the game’s past and should have no part in its future.”
Infantino, made a strategic public appearance alongside Grafstrom on the broadcast of the Malawi vs Zambia game at the WAFCON match in Morocco.
Infantino challenger yet to step forward
Knives are reportedly being sharpened behind Infantino’s back with reports some national federations have lost faith in this administration.
Infantino confirmed in May he will stand for re-election next year.
The 2027 election will take place during the 77th FIFA Congress on March 18 in Morocco.
The football supremo retained his presidency unopposed during the elections that took place in 2019 and 2023 after he first took power in 2016.
Not one official has stepped forward to publicly declare their intent to challenge Infantino next year. Time is already running out.
Any possible challenger must secure a minimum number of five nominations from national federations in order to be considered a candidate. That deadline expires on November 18.
The list of possible opponents to run against Infantino includes Norwegian football boss Lise Klaveness, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and Paris Saint Germain owner Nasser bin Ghanim Al-Khelaifi.
