Infantino acknowledges FIFA 'mistakes' amid internal dissent and external scrutiny

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is making a concerted effort to shore up his leadership by acknowledging organizational "mistakes" and seeking to rally his administration. Following a meeting with top officials in Rabat, Morocco, FIFA issued a rare statement admitting errors, particularly concerning the aborted sales plans for World Cup media rights involving entities linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The statement, which used the word "mistake" three times, aimed to address internal dissent and criticism. FIFA conceded that "it was not the intention that the FIFA Council and the FIFA member associations feel excluded from the process, and that the process should have been handled differently." The organization also admitted to making "mistakes" after the proposal was leaked to the media. This move is seen as Infantino's latest attempt to build a defensive line against opposition from European, Asian, and North/Central American football confederations.

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It was not the intention that the FIFA Council and the FIFA member associations feel excluded from the process, and that the process should have been handled differently.

However, not all key figures attended the meeting in Rabat, which coincided with the 2030 World Cup co-hosting bid involving Spain and Portugal. Notably absent were Arsène Wenger, FIFA's director of global football development, and Jill Ellis, director of women's football. Kevin Lamour, the Chief Operating Officer, was also not present; he had previously accused Infantino of misleading him and FIFA staff regarding the rights sales project.

Conversely, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström appears to have reaffirmed his loyalty to Infantino. Grafström, considered Infantino's most crucial internal associate, had previously expressed ignorance about the sales plans and lamented a "sad and reprehensible series of events." Following the Rabat meeting, Grafström signed a letter to all FIFA member associations and the 37-member Council, seemingly endorsing the administration's position. Despite these internal maneuvers, reports suggest that judicial investigations into FIFA's affairs are ongoing.

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It is also acknowledged that mistakes were made after the proposal was leaked to the media.