FIFA Secretary General Labels Failed World Cup Money Deal a ‘Sad’ Fiasco as Internal Mutiny Grows

Civil war inside FIFA’s highest ranks has escalated after Secretary General Mattias Grafström openly criticized the botched scheme to sell off private stakes in the World Cup, describing the entire ordeal as a “sad and reproachable series of events.”

In an internal message dispatched to staff at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, Grafström—traditionally one of President Gianni Infantino’s closest allies—expressed deep dismay over the turmoil that has engulfed world soccer’s governing body.

The controversy stems from Infantino’s aggressive push to launch a new commercial subsidiary, designed to raise over $4 billion by selling private equity stakes in future World Cup tournaments. However, the proposal met immediate opposition from continental governing bodies. UEFA threatened a total boycott of FIFA competitions, while CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation condemned the plan as an unacceptable commercialization of the sport.

Faced with legal threats and widespread revolt, Infantino was forced to scrap the proposal. But the fallout has left his presidency severely weakened, triggering high-level resignations and unprecedented public pushback from within his own administration.

Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, revealed he was kept in the dark about the plan until reading about it in the media, calling the decision to drop the project “absolutely necessary.” Meanwhile, senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, calling the scheme a bad deal for the future of football.

Attempting to steady the ship, Grafström assured FIFA personnel that leadership would shield them from the political fallout ravaging the organization, emphasizing that individual leaders and turbulent moments come and go, but the institution’s responsibility to global football remains unchanged.