06.08.2026, 10:00 Uhr
FIFA president Gianni Infantino went to watch a women's Africa Cup of Nations match and posted messages of support from member federations after being backed as well in a crisis meeting of the world governing body.
Secretary general Mattias Grafström was pictured sitting next to Infantino in the Rabat stadium to watch the women's match between Zambia and Malawi.
"After a day of constructive and positive meetings with members of the FIFA Management Board, it was a pleasure to watch a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match between Malawi and Zambia," Infantino said on Instagram early Thursday.
Infantino had summoned FIFA executives to the Moroccan city in the wake of private investor plans for events led by the World Cup which were dropped after a fierce backlash.
A statement after the meeting said that while mistakes were acknowledged "the FIFA secretary general and members of the FIFA management board reaffirmed their full support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA member associations.
"In turn, the FIFA president reiterated his full support for the FIFA secretary general and the FIFA administration for their necessary and outstanding work in the delivery of his vision."
Grafström had reportedly been among those who criticised the investor plan under which FIFA wanted to set up a company to oversee their commercial rights and tournament operations and into which private investors could buy minority stakes.
The plan was withdrawn after rejections from three confederations and a threat from UEFA to boycott FIFA events if the plan became reality.
Infantino came under heavy fire as he is seeking re-election for a final term in March at the FIFA congress which is also to be held in Rabat.
In his Instagram story, he posted messages of support from the FAs of the Philippines and Mongolia.
Source: Dpa-international.com
