Gianni Infantino Apologizes to FIFA Council Over Abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise Plan Ahead of Election

At the recent FIFA Council gathering in Zurich, Gianni Infantino sought to close the chapter on the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The plan came under intense scrutiny after its details were leaked by journalist Martyn Ziegler just after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The scheme aimed to sell shares in a newly created entity responsible for managing the commercial operations of future World Cups. An agreement was already in place for American businessman Josh Kushner to invest in the venture. Despite this, the proposal was dropped following widespread criticism from FIFA confederations and officials worldwide. Critics argued the project gave the impression of selling football rights to the highest bidder and condemned the secretive way it was developed.

Infantino Offers Apology and Explains Intentions

FIFA Council member Ahmed Yahya, who also leads the Mauritania football association, reported that Infantino apologized/strong to the Executive Committee for the missteps related to the FFE plan. Yahya described a constructive debate that led the committee to set the issue aside and focus on moving forward positively for the sport’s benefit.

"After finally withdrawing this proposal, President Gianni Infantino apologised to the members of the Executive Committee. This was followed by a responsible debate... the Executive Committee is looking ahead and seeking solutions," said Yahya.

Following the meeting, Infantino told reporters, "We had a very good meeting today, where we discussed the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which was the main discussion point. I apologized for the mistakes we made regarding communication and consultation. This proposal intended to allow FIFA to invest more in member associations rather than replace existing support. Its aim was to create more success stories inspired by the FIFA 2026 World Cup because football is for everyone."

FIFA confirmed that the FFE plan has been permanently withdrawn and will not return in any form. They also highlighted positive discussions around distributing $6 billion in funding among the 211 member associations.

Support for Infantino Ahead of Presidential Vote

Ahmed Yahya expressed strong backing for Infantino in the upcoming presidential election. He cited successful initiatives like the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams as evidence of Infantino's leadership.

"I am certain that Gianni Infantino is the right president. The majority want him to stay," Yahya said. "He wants to promote football and include everyone. That is why we expanded the World Cup to 48 teams, and that has delivered results."

Other Topics Covered in the Meeting

The three-and-a-half-hour session also addressed US striker Folarin Balogun's suspended red-card ban at the World Cup, the FIFA Peace Prize, and funding for national associations, according to BBC reports. Not all council members were satisfied with the responses; German FA head and FIFA Council member Bernd Neuendorf commented, "We asked many critical questions, but there were no satisfactory answers from my point of view."

When Is the Next FIFA Presidential Election?

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for Thursday, March 18, 2027, during the next FIFA Congress meeting. Currently, Gianni Infantino is the only confirmed candidate. No challengers have announced their intention to run against him yet.

According to FIFA rules, Infantino can stand for re-election once more, which would be his fourth term. His first term began after a special election following Sepp Blatter's resignation and does not count toward the term limit, which allows presidents three full terms.

• Election Date: March 18, 2027
• Current Candidate: Gianni Infantino
• Term Limits: Maximum of three full terms, special election term excluded