Infantino tenders public apology after failed move to sell World Cup stakes
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued a public apology over his failed move to sell World Cup stakes to private investors who are mostly Americans.
Infantino who tendered the apology on Wednesday evening in a joint statement after the backlash that followed his controversial proposal admitted that the process was flawed and mistakes were made.
The FIFA boss who made the remarks in the joint statement signed by its secretary general Mattias Grafstrom acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media and sincerely apologised for the errors and commit to them not happening again.
“We acknowledge mistakes were made in the process of the proposed establishment of FFE,” the letter said.
“It was certainly not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and it should have been handled differently.
“We acknowledge that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media. We sincerely apologise for these errors and commit to them not happening again. With this in mind, we will conduct a necessary review, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.”
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The statement continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, the FIFA Secretary General and the Management Board in attendance reaffirm their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations.
“It was discussed and agreed at the meeting that the processes, communications and interactions between the FIFA President, the FIFA Secretary General and the Management Board that support the delivery of this vision can and should always be continuously improved in terms of their effectiveness and efficiency.
“We are fully confident that the outcomes of today’s meeting will strengthen FIFA’s governance, help restore confidence in the organisation and enable us to prepare for the major events and challenges ahead in a united and transparent manner while continuing our mission to develop the game around the world.”
The apology comes hours after former Portuguese international Luis Figo demanded the resignation Infantino over his proposed move to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
Figo who made the call in an interview with Daily Mail on Wednesday said that Infantino should step down because he has lost the backing of his senior staff, close advisers and the global football community.
He further argued that Infantino should throw in the towel for debasing the office that he promised to elevate by lying, deceiving and trying to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.
