Gianni Infantino addressed the FIFA Council in Zurich on Thursday, apologising for the handling of the now‑scrapped FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal and for the controversial suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun’s red‑card ban. The council, meeting for the first time since the FFE controversy surfaced, demanded that Infantino release all related documents and provide written responses to a series of unanswered questions.
During a three‑and‑a‑half‑hour session, Infantino faced inquiries about the FFE plan, which would have granted a private investment firm a share of FIFA’s commercial rights, the funding of national associations, and the organisation’s Peace Prize. He also was questioned on the Balogun incident, where the striker avoided a one‑match suspension after a World Cup send‑off, a decision that drew criticism from UEFA and the media.
In a video statement released later, Infantino said, “First of all, I apologised for the mistakes that we made in relation to the communication and consultation process related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which led to many consequences.” He added that the proposal was never a final deal and that he would answer questions in writing “in due course.”
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a FIFA vice‑president, said the council had received no substantive answers and that the lack of transparency made it unclear whether Infantino was fit to continue as president. She called for the documents to be shared and warned that failure to do so could lead to criminal proceedings, as UEFA has already filed lawsuits in three US courts seeking the FFE papers.
Infantino will stand for re‑election in March, but no credible challenger has emerged. Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has been mentioned as a potential candidate, while former Tottenham and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has hinted at a bid. UEFA and other football bodies insist a rival must be on the ballot by 18 November to preserve democratic choice among the 211 member associations.
As the council prepares its December review, the football world watches closely to see whether Infantino’s apology and forthcoming disclosures will restore confidence or whether the controversy will force a leadership change.
