Infantino apologises to Fifa Council over failed investment scheme

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

Fifa president Gianni Infantino apologized to the organization's council after the collapse of the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise investment plan, which faced backlash due to governance concerns and ties to a politically connected investor. In response, Fifa announced a governance review and a proposal to increase funding to member associations, but criticism of Infantino’s leadership persists ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has apologised to the organisation’s top decision-making body over a failed investment scheme that generated significant controversy within world football. The apology followed the collapse of a proposed commercial entity, the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would have controlled revenue generated by football’s governing body, including income from the World Cup.

The plan, announced earlier this year and quickly abandoned, involved selling a stake in the FFE to a fund managed by Joshua Kushner, a technology investor with family ties to the US political sphere—his brother Jared Kushner is married to Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US President Donald Trump. This connection, along with other governance concerns, contributed to a backlash against Infantino from several regional football confederations and member associations.

European football’s governing body, Uefa, has been among the most vocal critics, calling for Infantino’s resignation over the aborted FFE plan. Other confederations from North and Central America and Asia have also expressed dissatisfaction with Infantino’s leadership. The Switzerland-based non-profit quickly scrapped the FFE project only days after its public announcement.

Following a Fifa Council meeting held in Zurich, Infantino formally apologised to the 37-member decision-making body for how the FFE project was managed and communicated. A statement from Fifa confirmed that a working group will be established to thoroughly review the organisation’s governance framework to address the issues raised.

In an effort to address growing discontent among members, Fifa announced plans to increase its financial distributions to its 211 member associations around the world. This year’s men’s World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, generated over $15 billion in revenue, resulting in a surplus exceeding $5.2 billion. Fifa’s proposal would raise annual funding to member associations from $10 million to $25 million over the next four years. The proposal is expected to be finalised and put to a vote by member associations at the organisation’s March 2027 congress.

Despite these measures, criticism of Infantino’s leadership remains entrenched. English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who is also one of eight Fifa vice-presidents, stated after the council meeting that while members had voiced their concerns, the president did not adequately address them. Hewitt said Infantino must respond to these challenges to maintain his position as Fifa president.

The controversy surrounding the FFE compounded existing grievances, including criticism of Infantino’s decision to award a “Fifa peace prize” to former US President Donald Trump last year. Infantino is set to seek re-election in March 2027, with potential challengers required to register by November 18. The organisation’s ongoing internal debates highlight the high stakes and divisions ahead of the upcoming leadership contest.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.