Gianni Infantino calls emergency FIFA staff meeting as pressure grows - report

Key Points:

• FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting in Rabat amid growing pressure and controversy over a failed plan to privatize part of FIFA's World Cup operations, involving key FIFA executives and management board members.
• The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which included selling 20% to private investors, was widely rejected by major football confederations like UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC, leading to its withdrawal and threats of boycotts against FIFA competitions.
• UEFA and several national associations, including England, Wales, and Scotland, have withdrawn support for Infantino, with ongoing efforts within the FIFA Council to hold him accountable or force a governance boycott if a majority cannot be reached.
• FIFA's second-in-command, Mattias Grafstrom, acknowledged the turmoil caused by the FFE controversy but pledged to protect staff from the political fallout, while senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned and FIFA COO Kevin Lamour accused Infantino of misleading staff.
• Support for Infantino remains strong in parts of Africa, South America, Oceania, and some Asian associations, though others like Jordan have strongly opposed him, alleging FIFA engaged in vote-buying tactics; UEFA is also considering legal action related to the FFE plan.