FIFA President Gianni Infantino is scheduled to meet with senior FIFA officials in Morocco on Wednesday to address the fallout from his controversial proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup. This meeting comes amid significant criticism and personal attacks directed at Infantino following his suggestion to create a new commercial rights body for FIFA's 211 member associations.

Criticism and Backlash

Infantino's plan, which included selling 20% of the rights to private investors to generate $4.2 billion, faced severe backlash, particularly due to its association with a company linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Following Infantino's retraction of the proposal last Friday, the European confederation UEFA expressed its discontent, stating that it no longer has confidence in his leadership and accusing him of compromising the integrity of the game.

Impact on Infantino's Future

The criticism has raised concerns about Infantino's upcoming re-election for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March, an outcome that seemed assured just two months ago. UEFA has taken steps to preserve documents related to the situation but has not provided further comments. Additionally, several European federations have retracted their support for Infantino, highlighting a growing divide within FIFA.

Internal reactions within FIFA have also been telling. Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom expressed disappointment over the events that led to the proposal's abandonment, emphasizing the institution's ongoing mission and responsibilities. Similarly, FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour described the initiative as a misguided effort of one individual, indicating a lack of consensus among FIFA leadership. Furthermore, Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, while Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of Global Football Development, distanced himself from the plan, calling the decision to withdraw it "absolutely necessary."