Infantino apologises to Fifa Council - but told he is still not fit to lead
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsClose menu BBC SportMenuHomeFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby UTennisGolfCyclingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandQuizzesNews FeedsHelp & FAQsFIFA World CupResultsTop ScorersTeamsInfantino apologises to Fifa Council - but told he is still not fit to leadImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Gianni Infantino celebrated 10 years as Fifa president in February 2026 President Gianni Infantino has apologised to the Fifa Council for his World Cup sell-off plan - but has been told he is not fit to lead unless he releases all the documents and answers key questions. The Fifa Council met in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since Infantino's secret Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal emerged. Under FFE, which Infantino scrapped within days, a portion of the commercial rights of football's world governing body would have been given to a private investment firm. In a three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Infantino also faced questions about US striker Folarin Balogun's suspended red-card ban, the Fifa Peace Prize and funding for national associations. Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt - a Fifa vice-president - said afterwards that many questions remained unanswered despite the "most robust, most frank, most open Council meeting" she had experienced. "One of the disappointing things is that we didn't get answers to anything that we had specifically requested - for example getting the papers from FFE," Hewitt said. "I asked the question 'why not?' - and we were asked to submit those questions in writing. "I think the man has to answer those questions and if he doesn't answer those questions now, he's not fit to be Fifa president - and that was what was shared in the meeting." Hewitt added: "I've repeatedly asked for the papers to be shared. I haven't received them and still in spite of the request today, I haven't received them. "It is the rationale for why FFE happened in the way that it did, the Balogun case, the Peace Prize. "The responses to those questions, which I still don't have answers to, will determine from my personal point of view whether or not Gianni is the right candidate. "That will be the point at which or not we can say that any individual that was involved in FFE can or cannot be trusted because until we see what actually happened it's very difficult to say behaviour needs or not to change." Hewitt acknowledged there had been "some contrition" in Infantino's apology. "Then there were no holds barred in terms of what we felt about what had happened," she added. "What he really apologised for was not bringing it to the Council. If you regret it that deeply, share it with us." Uefa - European football's governing body - has been one of Infantino's fiercest critics and has repeatedly called on him to stand down. It has prepared criminal legal proceedings against Infantino and lodged a claim in three US courts for all documents related to FFE to be released. Hewitt hopes Infantino now freely releases the documents so the Council can understand what happened. "Those papers coming to Council are a crucial next part of us feeling comfortable as to what, if any, criminal proceedings need to take place," Hewitt said. Asked if there was any change in stance from Uefa about Infantino, she added: "From my position, nothing has shifted. I've no new information that makes me feel any differently, other than we do have a president who is apologetic." Could Wenger really take on Infantino and run for Fifa presidency? Published9 hours agoInfantino says he is open to talks over Fifa reform Published21 SeptemberUefa still searching for candidate to stand against InfantinoInfantino will stand for re-election as Fifa president for a third time in March, and as yet no credible candidate has emerged to challenge the Swiss-Italian. Former Tottenham and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has said he intends to run, but it appears unlikely he will get the five letters of support from member associations let alone be a serious contender. Senior figures within European football have told BBC Sport they want former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to run. But it is unclear whether Wenger would be prepared to give up his position as Fifa's global head of football development for a fight against his boss that he may not win. Hewitt accepted Uefa - and Infantino's other opponents around the world - must find someone to put their name on the ballot before the deadline of 18 November. She also indicated it would be important for the president to have a rival after being re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. "I think it's important to Gianni to have somebody who stands with a different manifesto, and good for Fifa to have that choice," Hewitt added. "We're in a democracy here. We must remember there are 211 associations and it's really important that all 211 associations have the opportunity to vote according to how they feel. "This is somebody first and foremost who puts football first right at the heart of everything that they do. Secondly, it has to be somebody who unites the world. Thirdly, somebody who needs to have the courage to bring about reforms." Hewitt said Balogun avoiding a suspension after being sent off at the World Cup was one of the "biggest issues". Balogun's ban was suspended after US President Donald Trump asked for the decision to be reviewed. BBC Sport understands a proposal was put to the Council to amend the Fifa disciplinary code, which would prevent a repeat.
Source: BBC Sport
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