Infantino told he is 'not fit to lead' in FIFA council meeting

In a FIFA Council meeting held in Zurich, President Gianni Infantino faced criticism for his handling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise controversy. The meeting, which lasted three and a half hours, saw Infantino apologize for the "communication and consultation process" surrounding the scrapped proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights to external investors.

However, European federation presidents, including Debbie Hewitt of the English Football Association and Bernd Neuendorf of the German Football Association, claimed their questions remained unanswered. Both Hewitt and Neuendorf stated that if Infantino does not address these concerns, he is not fit to lead FIFA. The FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, introduced in July 2026, aimed to transfer FIFA’s commercial rights into a separate subsidiary, with investors including US financier Joshua Kushner acquiring at least a 20 percent stake.

Reports suggested the initiative sought to generate $4.2 billion, though Infantino emphasized it was a proposal and never a done deal. However, members were denied access to supporting documents, citing ongoing legal proceedings in the United States. Infantino also presented a financial package for FIFA’s member associations, known as the FIFA Surplus Solidarity Program, which would distribute $6.35 billion among the 211 associations in the 2027-2030 cycle, an increase from the previous $10 million per federation allocation.

Despite opposition, particularly from UEFA and the English FA, anyone wishing to challenge Infantino must secure nominations from five member associations by November 18, 2026. As of now, no rival candidate has announced a bid, and Infantino remains open to reform talks as pressure mounts.