Infantino apologizes at FIFA Council but leaves European opponents without answers

Gianni Infantino apologized at the 37th FIFA Council session held on October 15, 2026 in Zurich, but failed to dispel the mistrust of European leaders who were demanding answers about his plan to sell World Cup shares to private investors.

The Council formally abandoned the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which aimed to open the World Cup to private capital. However, Infantino’s apology was limited to a specific point: failing to submit the matter to the Council before revealing its details. FIFA Vice-President Debbie Hewitt confirmed this unambiguously: “What he really apologized for is not having submitted the subject to the Council.” As president of the English Football Association, she hardened her tone after the meeting. “This man must answer these questions. If he doesn’t do so now, he is not fit to be FIFA president.”

Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association, shared this skepticism. “We asked many questions, and in my view there were no satisfactory answers. Trust in him is lost,” he said. Infantino also asked European football leaders to submit their questions about World Cup private financing in writing, a move perceived as delaying tactics by his critics.

Two other sensitive matters were addressed. The Folarin Balogun case — an American international whose suspension was lifted during the 2026 World Cup following direct intervention by Donald Trump, confirmed by the person concerned — led the Council to announce a modification of Article 27 that had enabled this cancellation. Details of this revision will be presented at the next Council meeting scheduled for December 16.

The “Peace Prize” awarded by Infantino to Donald Trump last December was also brought up. The award criteria will be examined, and outright abolition of the prize is being considered.

Despite these turbulences, Infantino retains solid support within the Council, making a short-term challenge to his presidency unlikely.