Infantino apologises to Fifa Council - but told he's still not fit to lead

Fifa President Gianni Infantino has expressed regret over his controversial World Cup sell-off plan, yet the Fifa Council has ruled he is unfit to lead until he releases all relevant documents and answers critical questions. The council convened for the first time since the secret Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal surfaced, during which Infantino rescinded his FFE proposal days later.

FFE would have allocated a portion of football's world governing body's commercial rights to a private investment firm. During the three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Infantino faced inquiries about suspended red-card bans, the Fifa Peace Prize, and funding for national associations. Uefa chair Debbie Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, highlighted the lack of answers concerning FFE documents, stating that unless Infantino addresses these concerns, he is not fit to lead.

Uefa has prepared criminal legal proceedings against Infantino and sought the release of all documents related to FFE in three US courts. Hewitt emphasized that the situation remains unchanged, and no new information has altered her stance on Infantino's fitness to lead. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been suggested as a potential challenger, but the likelihood of him running appears slim.

Hewitt believes it is crucial for Infantino to have a rival with a distinct platform, as democracy demands that all 211 associations have the opportunity to vote according to their preferences.