Fifa president Gianni Infantino is meeting with senior leaders, including secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and finance chief Thomas Peyer, on Wednesday at Fifa's Africa office in Rabat. The meeting comes amid criticism of Infantino's scrapped plan to sell off Fifa's commercial and event operations, with several member associations withdrawing support for his re-election. Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, has accused Fifa of creating a situation that "amounts to blackmail" over unpaid prize money, which is alleged but not verified by the BBC. Infantino will likely face questions about his plan, including its viability and whether it was properly approved by member associations, according to Carlos Cordeiro's resignation statement.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
Fifa president Gianni Infantino will meet with senior leaders of football's world governing body on Wednesday as criticism of his now scrapped plan to sell off Fifa's commercial and event operations intensifies.
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criticism → publish → operations
After secretary general Mattias Grafstrom sent a highly critical internal memo to Fifa staff, Infantino summoned members of the Fifa management board to Morocco.
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Infantino → send → Morocco
Tuesday also saw chief of global football development Arsene Wenger insist he was "not involved" in Infantino's Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, adding that aborting it was "absolutely necessary and beyond question".
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aborting → see → question
Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, then accused Fifa of creating a situation which "amounts to blackmail" over unpaid prize money and support for Infantino's re-election.
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which → accuse → election
These claims have not been verified by the BBC, and Fifa made no comment when approached.
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Fifa → verify → comment
But Prince Ali's statement is indicative of the strength of feeling among the member associations that oppose Infantino.
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that → oppose → Infantino
At the weekend, Uefa said it had lost confidence in Infantino's leadership.
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it → say → leadership
Several member associations - including Wales, with England set to follow suit - have withdrawn support for his re-election.
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England → include → election
Now Infantino will meet with Fifa's hierarchy to try to secure his position.
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Infantino → meet → position
BBC Sport understands the meeting will take place at Fifa's Africa office in Rabat.
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meeting → understand → Rabat
It will include Grafstrom and members of the Fifa management board.
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It → include → board
It is unclear the intention of the meeting, but it is expected that Infantino will attempt to build bridges in an attempt to create a path to remaining as president.
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Infantino → expect → president
In his letter to Fifa staff, Grafstrom said the events of the past week had been "a sad and reproachable series of events" which were "difficult to comprehend and accept".
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which → say → events
On Friday, Kevin Lamour, Fifa's chief operating officer, said the private investment plan was "the project of one person".
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plan → say → person
He added Fifa's own administration was "deceived".
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administration → add → ?
Infantino will have to show contrition and perhaps offer a route to reform if he is to win back the support of his inner circle.
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he → have → circle
What are the key questions Infantino may face?
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Infantino → face → ?
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser on global strategy and governance, quit on Friday over the plan.
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Cordeiro → quit → plan
Cordeiro said the proposal was "a bad deal for football" and would "mortgage football's future".
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proposal → say → future
Member associations had been given a deadline of 19 September to approve the plan or miss out on the extra funding that came as part of the deal.
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that → give → deal
In his resignation announcement, Cordeiro offered a series of questions which Infantino will likely face at Wednesday's meeting.
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Infantino → offer → meeting
"Most troubling of all," Mr Cordeiro said, "is the absence of answers to fundamental questions.
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absence → say → questions
What oversight exists?
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oversight → exist → ?
Who benefits?
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Who → benefit → ?
What will investors ultimately gain, and at what cost to football?
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investors → gain → football
These questions remain largely unanswered, and yet member associations are being asked to make a decision of enormous consequence in barely 50 days or risk being left behind.
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associations → remain → days
"That is not a responsible way to determine the future of the world's game.
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That → determine → game
"This proposal has become a defining question for Fifa's future."
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proposal → become → future
On top of this, Infantino may also have to map out - or could offer - a route for reform.
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Infantino → have → reform
This may involve putting additional checks and balances in place that would make it impossible for such a plan to be devised and presented in this way again.
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plan → involve → way
Perhaps he could shelve his plans for a 64-team World Cup? Or offer to open up Fifa's cash reserves?
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he → shelve → reserves
Is Infantino going to quit today?
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Infantino → go → ?
It seems unlikely that Infantino will leave his position as Fifa president by the end of Wednesday.
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Infantino → seem → Wednesday
Infantino has, so far, shown no indication he is considering relinquishing his position.
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he → show → position
Indeed, he has been trying to rally his core supporter base around the globe.
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he → try → globe
On Tuesday we saw African countries Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania and DR Congo all issue statements in support of Infantino.
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countries → see → Infantino
Infantino will, however, have to answer serious questions about a hugely controversial and damaging week for Fifa.
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Infantino → have → Fifa
There may be those in the room who will query his ability to turn this around, especially with such fierce criticism from European countries.
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who → query → countries
Could that criticism be strong enough for Infantino to tender his resignation?
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Infantino → tender → resignation
More likely, perhaps, Infantino could see this as the start of the fightback.
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Infantino → see → fightback
…and 23 more, not listed.
