Embattled FIFA chief Infantino in emergency talks, suffers Figo blow
President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco, amid a wave of criticism over his now shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment...
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks in Morocco following a backlash over his now-scrapped plan to open the World Cup to private investment.
- Infantino faced widespread criticism, including from former star Luis Figo, who urged him to "Go".
- The controversial plan, which proposed raising up to $4.2 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, was withdrawn after being labelled a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" by UEFA.
- Despite the public outcry, Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa publicly backed Infantino, calling his move to scrap the plan "wise".
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FIFA back Infantino, apologise for World Cup privatisation plan - August 2026
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received the "full support" of senior directors following a crisis meeting in Morocco, where the governing body also apologized for a controversial plan to privatize the World Cup. The embattled FIFA chief held emergency talks following backlash over his now-scrapped plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Meanwhile, despite a 2-1 loss to Zambia, outsider nation Malawi secured a spot in the WAFCON quarter-finals, outranking rivals Nigeria and Zambia on head-to-head records. Infantino was present to witness the upset, adding context to his visit to the region.
