Swedish Top Official in Internal Message: 'Sad'

FIFA's Swedish secretary general, Mattias Grafström, has expressed his dismay over the recent turmoil surrounding a proposed plan to sell stakes in the organization's tournaments to private investors. In an internal message to staff, obtained by Sky News, Grafström described the situation as a "sad and reprehensible sequence of events" that is "difficult to comprehend and accept."

The controversial plan, which involved selling shares through a commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise, was announced in July. It quickly drew sharp criticism from various stakeholders, prompting FIFA President Gianni Infantino to abandon the project just days later. Grafström, who has a long working relationship with Infantino and is considered his right-hand man, did not directly mention the FIFA president in his message but emphasized FIFA's responsibility to global football.

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We have all been thrown into a chaos that is difficult to comprehend and accept.

Grafström urged FIFA employees to maintain their professionalism, perspective, and composure, assuring them that they would be defended and protected from the political situation. He stressed that the decision to scrap the plans was "absolutely necessary and beyond doubt." The secretary general called on staff to continue focusing on what has always united them: serving football and its 211 member associations, working alongside all stakeholders and adhering to FIFA's statutes and regulations.

The internal message highlights the significant disruption caused by the abandoned plan. While Grafström's statement aims to reassure staff and refocus efforts on FIFA's core mission, the incident underscores the challenges and controversies that can arise from such ambitious commercial proposals within international sports organizations.

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But as secretary general, I urge you to continue to focus on what has always united us: serving football and our 211 member associations, side by side with all stakeholders and in full compliance with FIFA's statutes and regulations.