Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, faced sharp criticism during a tense meeting held at the organization's headquarters in Zurich, where he was told that he is "not qualified to lead" this organization. This criticism arose after Infantino apologized for the canceled "FIFA Forward Project" (FFE) and his attempts to attract private investment in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
Review of the Canceled Project's Aspects
The FIFA Council gathered in Zurich for the first time since the scandal related to the FFE was revealed. Infantino is facing serious challenges ahead of the FIFA presidential elections next year, and severe criticism from many council members has put him under pressure. His plan to sell shares in FIFA competitions to private investors faced negative reactions from several entities, leading UEFA to threaten to boycott FIFA competitions.
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Response to Criticism and FIFA's Future
In a meeting that lasted over three hours, Infantino not only responded to the criticisms regarding the FFE but was also questioned about other controversies. One of the topics mentioned was the suspension of Folarin Balogun, the American striker, and its cancellation, which had been raised at the request of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Additionally, Infantino was questioned about awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump.
Debbie Hewitt, the chair of the English Football Association and FIFA vice-president, expressed dissatisfaction at the meeting, stating, "Unfortunately, we have not received a clear response to our requests, including the documents related to the FFE project." She emphasized that Infantino must answer these questions, and if he cannot, he is not qualified to lead FIFA.
UEFA, which is one of Infantino's serious critics, has been preparing legal actions against him and has filed requests in three American courts for the release of documents related to the FFE project. Debbie Hewitt clearly stated that, in her view, there has been no change in UEFA's position, and Infantino's apology is simply not enough.
Despite UEFA's severe dissatisfaction, Infantino is seeking to maintain his position in the FIFA presidential elections for a third time and must find a rival by November 18. Hewitt emphasized that federations should have the opportunity to vote based on their views.
Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham and Switzerland defender, has also announced his intention to run in the elections, although the likelihood of him receiving the necessary five letters of support from member federations is low.
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