Infantino calls crisis meeting in Rabat as FIFA allies defect and Prince Ali demands unpaid prize money
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has summoned senior staff to a crisis meeting in Rabat after a failed investor rights plan and defections by key allies, while Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein accuses the body of withholding $4.2 million in prize money.
Crisis meeting in Rabat
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called senior staff to a crisis meeting on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, at the organisation's Africa headquarters. The Times and Sky first reported the gathering, with anonymous sources telling the Times that Infantino summoned the meeting "to desperately cling to power." The agenda has not been disclosed, but the meeting comes after a turbulent period that has seen key allies defect and a former presidential candidate accuse FIFA of withholding prize money. Infantino was in Rabat just last week as a guest of King Mohammed VI.
- Jordan finishes second in FIFA Arab Cup; prize money remains unpaid
- Carlos Cordeiro resigns as Infantino's advisor in protest
- Mattias Grafström and Arsène Wenger distance themselves from Infantino
- Infantino convenes crisis meeting in Rabat
The investor rights plan that sparked outrage
The crisis was triggered by Infantino's proposal to sell up to 20 percent of FIFA's commercial rights to private investors, a deal that involved connections to Jared Kushner. UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions, forcing Infantino to abandon the plan. Despite the reversal, criticism has not subsided, with European football bodies leading the opposition. The episode was widely seen as a self-inflicted wound that exposed governance concerns at the top of world football.
Key allies distance themselves
Pressure on Infantino intensified as close associates publicly broke ranks. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström described a "sad and reprehensible series of events" and an "uproar." Arsène Wenger, FIFA's director of global football development, distanced himself from the president. Carlos Cordeiro, a longtime advisor, resigned in protest the previous week. Their departures have left Infantino increasingly isolated.
Prince Ali's accusation over unpaid prize money
Adding to the turmoil, Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan accused FIFA of failing to pay $4.2 million in prize money owed to Jordan's national team for finishing second in the FIFA Arab Cup in December 2025. He wrote on a news platform:
The money our team should have received for reaching the final has not been paid, even though FIFA boasts about how many billions it has in reserve.
Prince Ali, who ran against Infantino for the FIFA presidency in 2016 and previously served on FIFA's executive committee, said the non-payment contrasted with FIFA's claims of financial strength.
What next for Infantino?
Infantino has indicated he will seek re-election in 2027, with the 77th FIFA Congress and presidential vote scheduled to take place in Rabat. The city is also a co-host for the 2030 World Cup. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Norwegian football president Lise Klaveness as a potential successor, while UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani are also named as possible candidates. The outcome of Wednesday's meeting may determine whether Infantino can stabilise his presidency or face a challenge that ends his tenure.
