FIFA says senior officials back Infantino after crisis meeting in Morocco

FIFA said on Wednesday that senior officials at an emergency meeting in Morocco backed Gianni Infantino to stay on as president after a week of criticism over a shelved plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. The governing body also said it had apologised for errors linked to the proposal.

The meeting came after the plan drew sharp objections from figures outside FIFA, including Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and former Portugal international Luís Figo. Carney said he had no confidence in Infantino’s leadership, while Figo called on him to step down.

According to FIFA, executives present at the gathering "reaffirmed their full support" for Infantino. The organisation did not give further details on the mistakes it said had been made.

The dispute has added pressure on Infantino ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election, with debate now extending beyond the failed investment idea to the direction of the sport’s global governing body.