FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologised to members of the organisation’s Council over an abandoned investment proposal that would have transferred part of the world football governing body’s commercial rights to a private investment firm.
The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was withdrawn within days of becoming public. However, it has continued to raise questions about transparency and decision-making within the organisation.
According to BBC Sport, the FIFA Council met in Zurich for the first time since the proposal emerged, with Infantino facing questions over the plan, the suspended red-card ban involving United States striker Folarin Balogun, the FIFA Peace Prize and funding for national football associations.
Following a three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Football Association chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt said several key questions remained unanswered.
“One of the disappointing things is that we didn’t get answers to anything that we had specifically requested, for example, getting the papers from FFE,” Hewitt said.
She explained that she had repeatedly requested the documents but had not received them. According to her, when she asked why they had not been provided, Council members were told to submit their questions in writing.
Hewitt said Infantino needed to address the outstanding concerns, adding that his leadership would remain under scrutiny until the relevant documents were released.
“I think the man has to answer those questions and if he doesn’t answer those questions now, he’s not fit to be FIFA president, and that was what was shared in the meeting,” she said, describing the position expressed during the meeting.
She said access to the FFE documents was necessary for Council members to understand the reasoning behind the proposal and determine whether those involved had acted appropriately.
“The responses to those questions, which I still don’t have answers to, will determine from my personal point of view whether or not Gianni is the right candidate,” Hewitt said.
She added that it would be difficult to assess the conduct of those involved without a clear understanding of what had happened.
Although Hewitt acknowledged that Infantino had shown remorse during the meeting, she said his apology appeared to focus mainly on his failure to present the proposal to the Council.
“What he really apologised for was not bringing it to the Council. If you regret it that deeply, share it with us,” she said.
UEFA, the governing body for European football, has been among Infantino’s strongest critics and has repeatedly called for him to step down.
The organisation has also prepared criminal legal proceedings against the FIFA president and filed claims in three United States courts seeking the release of documents relating to the FFE proposal.
Hewitt said providing the documents to the Council would be an important step towards establishing what happened and determining whether further action was necessary.
“Those papers coming to Council are a crucial next part of us feeling comfortable as to what, if any, criminal proceedings need to take place,” she said.
Asked whether her position on Infantino had changed following the meeting, Hewitt said there had been no significant shift.
“From my position, nothing has shifted. I’ve no new information that makes me feel any differently, other than we do have a president who is apologetic,” she said.
The abandoned investment proposal continues to put pressure on Infantino, with calls for greater transparency over the plan, the decisions surrounding it and the disclosure of documents that could help clarify the circumstances behind its withdrawal.
