Gianni Infantino Apologizes to FIFA Council Amid Ongoing Controversies

ZURICH (AP) — Gianni Infantino apologized to FIFA's ruling council on Thursday for "mistakes" in his investment plan for the World Cup but did not provide the details requested by critics who want to remove him as president of soccer's governing body. Soccer officials attended the meeting in Zurich seeking more information about two major controversies: his abandoned $4.2 billion World Cup sell-off plan and the Folarin Balogun red-card case at the World Cup, which involved U.S. President Donald Trump's intervention. European delegates expressed disappointment over the lack of clarity regarding these issues. "No satisfactory answers were provided," stated Bernd Neuendorf, a German soccer leader and one of eight delegates from UEFA in the 37-member FIFA Council that Infantino chairs. Infantino did not present any documents related to the $4.2 billion World Cup sell-off plan, which he had launched and quickly dropped in July following backlash from Europe. He also did not clarify the circumstances surrounding the Balogun red-card case. FIFA announced it would review whether to continue awarding the peace prize created for Trump last December. Infantino requested written questions from European delegates before the Nov. 18 deadline to propose a candidate to oppose him in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March. Debbie Hewitt, the head of the English Football Association and a FIFA vice president, emphasized that Infantino must answer these questions to be considered fit for the presidency. Infantino acknowledged his mistakes regarding the communication and consultation process related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which he described as "just a proposal" and not finalized. FIFA stated that details of the investor project remain confidential due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United States. The FIFA Council is the main decision-making body at FIFA, consisting mainly of presidents of national federations, who are elected for four-year terms. FIFA provides each member an annual stipend of $250,000, with $300,000 for continental presidents. UEFA is leading efforts to remove Infantino before the presidential election in March. Infantino's secretive work on the Kushner plan has caused frustration among soccer leaders in Europe, North America, and Asia, contributing to a perception that he operates without proper consultation. Neuendorf remarked, "We need a person of integrity, someone who can be expected to restore the reputation of the association, which has undoubtedly been lost." UEFA has also sought legal evidence regarding a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland, alleging possible mismanagement of FIFA finances. FIFA's legal filings have characterized these requests as a "smear campaign" by UEFA. For decades, FIFA voters from Africa have played a crucial role in maintaining power. Ahmed Yahya, a FIFA Council member from Mauritania, stated, "The key point for us is that we see Gianni as the right person to continue leading football." Infantino's proposal to increase FIFA funding to each member by $15 million over the next four years made progress during the meeting. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco, which is politically aligned with Infantino. Morocco is also co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The FIFA Council is set to meet again on Dec. 16 in Doha, Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup. Another ally, Azerbaijan, will host a global boys' tournament for under-15 teams later this month, serving as a lobbying opportunity for Infantino's campaign. FIFA will also hold an extraordinary congress on Nov. 23 to confirm hosts for the Women's World Cup in 2031 and 2035, with bids from the U.S.-Mexico-Costa Rica-Jamaica plan for 2031 and the four United Kingdom federations for 2035.