Rabat – FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has told employees that “individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go” as President Gianni Infantino faces growing internal and external pressure following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
Grafström, the second-highest-ranking official at world football’s governing body, addressed staff in an internal message sent on Tuesday after a turbulent week for the organization.
He described the events surrounding FIFA Forward Enterprise, known as FFE, as a “sad and reproachable series of events” and welcomed the project’s permanent abandonment, according to The Athletic.
Grafström did not name Infantino directly in his message. However, his comments represented another significant intervention by a senior FIFA official after several executives said they had not been involved in developing the proposal.
“We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept,” Grafström wrote.
He assured employees that they would be protected from the political dispute surrounding the organization. He urged them to remain focused on serving FIFA’s 211 member associations in accordance with its statutes and regulations.
Grafström was formally appointed FIFA secretary general in May 2024, having previously served as deputy secretary general and chief of staff to Infantino.
Senior officials distance themselves from plan
The proposed commercial restructuring would have placed FIFA’s major revenue-generating operations, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups, into a subsidiary valued at approximately $20 billion.
Private investors would have owned a 20% stake in the company, with FIFA seeking to raise around $4.2 billion. The plan would have introduced private equity investment into the World Cup’s commercial operations.
Infantino abandoned the proposal on Friday after opposition from confederations, national associations and officials within FIFA. He apologized for the divisions caused by the initiative but has continued to face questions about how it was developed and why many senior figures were not consulted.
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said employees had been “deceived” by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposal and described it as the project of one person.
Lamour, who has worked closely with Infantino for years, said FIFA staff deserved better treatment and indicated that he was prepared to lose his position for speaking publicly against the plan.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former president of the United States Soccer Federation, resigned in opposition to the proposal. Cordeiro argued that selling a permanent stake in FIFA’s most valuable commercial assets was unjustified given the governing body’s revenues and financial reserves.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, also distanced himself from the project.
The former Arsenal manager said he first learned about the proposal through media reports and described its withdrawal as “necessary and beyond question.” Wenger said FIFA must remain independent and serve football with transparency and integrity.
Morocco remains among Infantino’s few public backers
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, announced in April that he intends to seek another term. FIFA has set November 18 as the deadline for potential challengers to enter the presidential race.
The election is scheduled to take place during the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat on March 18, 2027.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) officially endorsed Infantino’s candidacy in May, saying it would support him exclusively in the election.
Morocco remained among the small number of national associations publicly backing the FIFA president as of Tuesday, alongside Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Sri Lanka.
An Extraordinary FIFA Congress could be triggered before the scheduled election if at least 43 of FIFA’s 211 member associations submit a formal written request.
For now, Infantino remains in office, but the public criticism from Grafström, Wenger, Lamour and several major football organizations has intensified scrutiny of his leadership and the decision-making structure within FIFA.
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