Infantino holds crisis meeting in Morocco as Fifa stake sale fallout continues

In a bid to restore his standing following the collapse of his proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, Fifa President Gianni Infantino will convene a crisis meeting with high-ranking officials in Morocco on Wednesday. This move comes amid widespread criticism and personal abuse directed at Infantino since he announced the plan to the Fifa's 211 member associations last week.

The proposal involved selling 20% of a new commercial rights body to private investors, raising a sum of US$4.2 billion. The plan also involved a company with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, which was viewed as a significant flaw by many critics. Despite Infantino's resignation from the position last Friday, the backlash has not subsided, particularly from the European confederation Uefa, which has accused Infantino of selling the "soul of the game" and has withdrawn its confidence in his leadership.

This has put Infantino's reelection for a fourth term at the Fifa Congress in Morocco in March at risk, as some European federations have withdrawn their support. Furthermore, senior colleagues at Fifa have also distanced themselves from the project, with FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour expressing regret over the "sad and reproachable series of events" that led to its abandonment.

The meeting in Morocco is expected to focus on ensuring Infantino's survival until the election, with potential calls for an Extraordinary Congress if 43 or more Fifa member associations formally request one. This situation has raised concerns about the stability of the international football community, with various confederations expressing their positions and support for Infantino.

However, the absence of a clear candidate to challenge him in the upcoming election provides Infantino with a potential advantage, at least for the next seven months until the election.