FIFA confirms Infantino remains president

Gianni Infantino will continue as FIFA president after receiving full backing from the organization's leadership during a meeting in Rabat, Morocco. FIFA confirmed Infantino's position in a statement, noting he had also submitted a written apology to the FIFA Council and its 211 member associations.

The apology addressed his failure to consult on a proposed sale of 21 percent of World Cup commercial rights to private investors through the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project. Infantino had met with FIFA's Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, and Chief Legal Officer, Emilio García Silvero, to assert his intention to lead the organization despite pressure from UEFA and Concacaf, who had called for a review of FIFA's governance.

FIFA's management emphasized their complete support for Infantino as the sole president elected by the member associations. The organization acknowledged shortcomings in handling the FFE proposal, which led to perceptions that the FIFA Council and member associations were sidelined. An internal review will be conducted before a report is presented at the next FIFA Council meeting.

Despite the internal review, FIFA stressed that the FFE project is entirely canceled and the organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any claims that could harm its integrity, governance, or reputation. Meanwhile, UEFA is reportedly preparing to find a candidate to challenge Infantino in the FIFA presidential election next year.

Infantino and Grafström attended the Women's Africa Cup of Nations match between Malawi and Zambia as a show of solidarity, and jointly sent a letter to FIFA Council members reiterating the governing body's official stance.