OffsAIde
·5 August 2026
FIFA apologises over private investor World Cup row and backs Gianni Infantino

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Yahoo sportsOffsAIde
·5 August 2026

FIFA apologised after a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, addressing the row over proposals to open the World Cup to private investors. The federation said in a statement that it also reaffirmed full support for president Gianni Infantino.
The organisation acknowledged that errors were made after the proposal leaked to the media, and pledged to ensure they are not repeated.
Board members present backed Infantino as the sole elected leader by the 211 member associations. They accepted there was no intention to sideline the FIFA Council or member associations from the process and that it should have been handled differently, without naming the president.
Despite mistakes, the actions remained within FIFA’s regulatory framework. The project has since been abandoned.
It was agreed that attacks on FIFA’s integrity, good governance and due process will not be tolerated, with all necessary measures to protect its name and reputation. Senior management is confident the meeting’s outcome will strengthen governance and help restore trust in the organisation.
Source: L'Équipe
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