Infantino Apologise Over FIFA Plan to Sell Commercial Rights

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, don apologise over di way dem handle one controversial proposal to sell part of FIFA commercial rights to private investors.

Infantino don apologise during FIFA Council meeting wey happen for Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, October 15. E admit say dem no handle the way dem explain di proposal well, and dem no consult council members as dem suppose do.

Di FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, wey dem don abandon now, na plan to set up one company wey go manage commercial business wey connect to FIFA competitions, including World Cup. Di plan also include to sell small part of di company to private investors.

Even though Infantino don apologise, FIFA Vice-President and Chairperson of English Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, still show say she no happy because Infantino no provide documents about di proposal, even though council members don request am before di meeting.

Hewitt ask why dem never release di documents, and she talk say instead, dem tell council members make dem write down their questions and submit am.

She explain say council members need to see di documents so dem fit examine di proposal well and understand how dem take develop di plan.

Hewitt also question whether Infantino apology really answer di concerns wey people raise. She point out say to admit say dem no consult people well no be di same thing as to explain di details of di arrangement wey dem propose.

Di FIFA Vice-President warn say if Infantino continue to fail to provide answers, e fit raise serious questions about di way e dey lead FIFA, di organisation wey dey control world football.

President of German Football Association, Bernd Neuendorf, also show say e no happy with di outcome of di meeting. E call for more transparency and better way to run FIFA affairs.

But FIFA insist say di details of di proposal still remain confidential because court cases dey ongoing for United States.

FIFA confirm say dem don permanently withdraw di FFE proposal, and dem no go bring am back in another form.

Infantino defend di original idea behind di project. E explain say di aim na to generate extra money to support football development across all 211 FIFA member associations.

Di controversy don make people begin look FIFA decision-making process more closely. Questions still dey about di proposed commercial arrangement and how much information dem give members of FIFA Council.