FIFA president Gianni Infantino has apologised to the organisation’s Council over a controversial investment proposal that would have handed part of the world football governing body’s commercial rights to a private investment firm, Trybal News reports.
The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was abandoned within days of becoming public but continues to raise questions about transparency and decision-making within FIFA.
Infantino’s apology came during Thursday’s FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, the first since the proposal emerged publicly. However, his admission of regret did little to resolve concerns among Council members, with several key questions remaining unanswered.
Football Association chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt said the meeting, which lasted three and a half hours, failed to provide the information she had requested about the abandoned proposal.
“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 revealed that repeated requests for the documents had not been fulfilled, with Council members instead being asked to submit their questions in writing.
“I asked the question ‘why not?’, and we were asked to submit those questions in writing,” she said.
Hewitt acknowledged Infantino’s apology but questioned whether it adequately addressed the concerns surrounding the proposal, suggesting that his regret was primarily directed at his failure to bring the plan before 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.
She also stressed that Infantino needed to provide answers to the outstanding questions, warning that the issue would continue to affect assessments of his leadership.
“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.
According to Hewitt, access to the FFE documents would help Council members understand how the proposal was developed 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,” she said.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from UEFA, which has repeatedly called for Infantino to step down. The European governing body has prepared criminal legal proceedings against the FIFA president and filed claims in three United States courts seeking the release of documents relating to the proposal.
Hewitt said the documents would be essential in 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.
Despite Infantino’s apology, Hewitt maintained that her position had not changed significantly, citing the lack of new information about the abandoned investment plan.
“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.
Infantino’s apology marks a key development in the controversy, but the continued absence of the requested documents means questions surrounding the FFE proposal remain unresolved.
