Rabat: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has secured the “full support” of senior directors despite the controversy surrounding the shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. World football’s governing body issued an apology for the proposal, which faced significant backlash, following a crisis meeting held in Morocco.

According to France24.com, FIFA admitted to making “errors” after the proposal was leaked to the media. Infantino, facing mounting pressure from within the organization and calls for his resignation, had already withdrawn the plan last Saturday. The proposal aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion through a new commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), that would manage events like the World Cup. It promised a one-off payment of $20 million to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations in 2027 and an increase in funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle.

However, the plan provoked a strong backlash, with UEFA threatening to boycott the World Cup. Acknowledging the criticism, FIFA’s leadership stated that it was not their intention to exclude the FIFA Council and Member Associations from the process. They promised to handle such proposals differently in the future. FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board reaffirmed their support for Infantino, noting he is the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations.

The FFE proposal, now off the table, had sparked internal dissent, with FIFA’s secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom criticizing the plan in a leaked email. FIFA announced a review would be conducted, with a report to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. Meanwhile, Infantino, who was in Morocco to celebrate the Feast of the Enthronement, attended a match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, maintaining a public presence amid the controversy.

Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa, who supports Infantino, praised his decision to scrap the plan, emphasizing unity. Despite the setback, Infantino is expected to pursue a fourth term as FIFA president, with no challengers currently in sight. However, the proposal’s fallout has led to significant criticism, with UEFA and other football bodies expressing dissatisfaction with Infantino’s leadership. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also withdrew his confidence in Infantino’s ability to lead FIFA effectively.