Infantino reaffirms support after World Cup sell-off plan fallout

Despite the backlash, FIFA's leadership reaffirmed its full support for Infantino during a crisis meeting in Morocco. The organization also issued an apology to its members for mistakes in the abandoned proposal. European soccer leagues, however, have called for FIFA governance reform, labeling Infantino's plan as 'dangerous' and questioning the decision-making process.

The article suggests that while the execution of Infantino's plan was flawed, the underlying principle of seeking external investment for sports competitions is a growing trend. It posits a 'behavioral excuse' for Infantino, attributing his actions to human nature and a potential loss of perspective, and a 'commercial justification' for seeking new money to drive innovation and bolder thinking within FIFA.

Looking ahead, the article notes that a deadline for identifying a unity candidate to challenge Infantino is mid-November, ahead of the presidential election scheduled for March next year. It suggests that Infantino may attempt to rally support from FIFA's broader membership, particularly outside of UEFA, by framing his ambition as being for the good of the sport.