FIFA apologizes over World Cup stake sales

    作者 Giantkebab: Gianni Infantino

    FIFA is owning up to missteps after a lot of backlash over how they tried to sell off World Cup stakes and it didn't work out. Gianni Infantino stays on as president though

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    FIFA's leadership has issued an apology for the division caused by Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes of FIFA to private equity investors. It comes after what FIFA called productive crisis talks with its senior officials in Morocco. Let's bring in from our BBC SportsCenter, Mark Benstead. Mark, just bring us up to speed here. What's FIFA been saying? Yeah, busy all day. Gianni Infantino will remain as FIFA president for now after he received the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday. Infantino has been under fire for his plans to sell off stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors, as you mentioned. In a statement after the meeting, the FIFA Management Board acknowledged the need for improved processes around communications, apologised for mistakes, but said they will not tolerate any attacks on its integrity. Let's plot some of the key lines from that statement then. Firstly, it says the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance re their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA member associations Regarding the forward enterprise proposal that the plan to invite that private investment it said it was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA members' associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently. It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to the media. It goes on to say that there are always lessons to be learned and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience. In this instance, however, it is important to stress that although mistakes were made, everything that was done was done in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework. And on the criticism that has come the way of FIFA, they say that they will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process. and, crucially, will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation. So Infantino stays in place for now. If someone wants to put themselves forward to stand against him for the presidency next year, they have until November the 18th to put their names forward. All right, Mark Benstead for us with that update from the BBC Sports Centre. Thank you very much.