Infantino holds emergency FIFA talks in Morocco amid calls for his resignation
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday, according to a source, following widespread criticism of his now-abandoned plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Pressure has mounted on Infantino, even from within FIFA, with calls for his resignation increasing since he withdrew the proposal last Saturday. Former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Luis Figo, a 'FIFA Legend', publicly called for Infantino to step down, stating in the Daily Mail that Infantino's actions were "the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed." FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, reportedly present at the meeting, had an internal email leaked where he criticized the proposal as a "sad and reproachable series of events." Infantino was in Morocco to celebrate the Feast of the Enthronement, and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is among the few who have publicly supported him. The controversial plan, which aimed to create a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to run events like the World Cup and potentially generate $4.2 billion, was met with a furious backlash, including a threat from UEFA to boycott the World Cup. Infantino withdrew the plan last Saturday, stating, "Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve." However, UEFA, CONCACAF, and others have continued to criticize his leadership and the proposal.
