FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologised for the governing body’s attempt to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors, describing the move as a mistake and assuring member associations that it will not be repeated.
The apology was contained in a letter sent to FIFA’s 211 member associations on Wednesday. The letter, signed by Infantino and FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström, reaffirmed the leadership’s commitment to the organisation and acknowledged errors in the proposed investment plan.
“The Secretary General and the Executive Board confirm their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the sole representative elected by FIFA’s 211 member associations,” the letter stated.
Addressing the controversial proposal, FIFA apologised for considering the sale of World Cup shares to private investors.
“We sincerely apologise for these mistakes and promise that they will not happen again. With this in mind, we will conduct the necessary review, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting,” the letter added.
In a separate official statement, Infantino admitted that the proposal had been a mistake but stressed that FIFA would continue to defend its reputation against criticism.
“With the project withdrawn, it was agreed that FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and the rule of law, and that it will take all necessary measures to protect and preserve its name and reputation,” part of the statement read.
The proposed investment plan had attracted criticism, prompting FIFA to withdraw the project and pledge a review of the decision-making process.
