ZURICH — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologized to the FIFA Council for his secret World Cup sell-off plan but was told he is still not fit to lead unless he releases all documents and answers key questions. The Council met in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since Infantino's secret FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal — which would have handed a portion of the organization's commercial rights to a private investment firm — emerged and was scrapped. Infantino celebrated 10 years as FIFA president in February 2026.
The three-and-a-half-hour meeting also included further questions about 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 afterward that many questions remained unanswered. "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," Hewitt said. "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 that Infantino's apology focused on process, saying, "Infantino said in his apology... what he really apologised for was not bringing it to the council," and added, "If you regret it that deeply, share it with us."
Asked if there was any change in stance from UEFA about Infantino, Hewitt said, "From my position, nothing has shifted," adding, "I've no new information that makes me feel any differently, other than we do have a president who is apologetic." Infantino has said he is open to talks over FIFA reform as questions persist about governance and transparency, with speculation also linking Arsene Wenger to a potential run for the FIFA presidency.