Gianni Infantino faces fresh FIFA backlash
Gianni Infantino has been blasted in a leaked email by FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom. The pressure is mounting on the beleaguered FIFA boss, who was forced to ditch his contentious plan to create a commercial subsidiary which can essentially sell stocks in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.
A furious backlash from the football world forced Infantino into ditching his reviled vision, after UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation publicly revoked his pitch. At the time of writing, the Welsh Football Association, the Swedish FA and the Serbian FA have withdrawn their support for him, with many more tipped to follow suit.
Infantino's grand plan has also been hated from within, as his senior adviser on global strategy and governance Carlos Cordeiro resigned, while Arsene Wenger also publicly stated ditching the vision was "the right thing to do."
The anger has not stopped there, as a leaked email from Grafstrom demonstrated.
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In an extraordinary message sent to those who work for the governing body of world football, Grafstrom appeared to suggest Infantino's days as the boss of FIFA are numbered.
"A sad and reproachable series of events - which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned - for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality.
"We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept, but, as Secretary General, I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 Member Associations, hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders and in full compliance with the FIFA Statutes and FIFA Regulations.
"I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience. You do not need to worry.
"Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.
"I also want you to know that my door remains open for you, and I will continue to support our teams, our work and our mission every hour of every day for as long as my work is valued by those we serve."
Grafstrom is the latest senior figure within FIFA to have communicated his anger at the recent drama, either publicly or from within. The pressure looks set to be cranked up on the Swiss football bureaucrat.
UEFA threatened to launch legal action against Infantino's plan, warning him it's "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints" while also warning him "any destruction, deletion, alteration, concealment, or loss of relevant materials following receipt of this notice – or following any earlier date on which you were, or reasonably should have been, aware that proceedings were anticipated – may constitute spoliation of evidence."
Earlier coverage in Gianni Infantino faces FIFA revolt over World Cup plot, UEFA leaves Gianni Infantino facing FIFA power crisis over World Cup plan, Gianni Infantino's World Cup sale plan puts FIFA chief under fresh pressure and UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC ready to launch rival competition to oust Gianni Infantino detailed the growing rebellion around the FIFA president's proposal, as football bodies hardened their stance and pressure intensified from within the organisation.
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