FIFA has pledged to strengthen its governance and internal decision-making after formally withdrawing the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, with the organisation’s senior leadership acknowledging shortcomings in how the initiative was handled.
The commitment followed a high-level meeting in Rabat, Morocco, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and members of the FIFA Management Board.
The gathering concluded with a renewed pledge to improve transparency, communication and institutional processes while maintaining a united leadership ahead of future global competitions.
The FFE proposal, which would have required approval from both the FIFA Council and FIFA’s 211 Member Associations, has now been abandoned.
FIFA acknowledged that mistakes were made during the proposal’s development, admitting that the Council and Member Associations should never have been left with the impression that they were excluded from the process.
The organisation also conceded that further errors occurred after details of the proposal were leaked to the media.
In a separate letter addressed to the FIFA Council and Member Associations, FIFA issued an apology for those shortcomings and committed to ensuring similar mistakes are not repeated.
A comprehensive review will now be undertaken, with its findings scheduled to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting.
Despite the acknowledged errors, FIFA stressed that every step taken throughout the process complied fully with its regulatory framework.
With the proposal now withdrawn, the organisation said it would firmly defend its integrity, governance standards and due process against what it described as attacks on its reputation, while continuing to refine its internal procedures.
The meeting also reaffirmed the unity of FIFA’s leadership.
Members of the FIFA Management Board expressed their full support for President Gianni Infantino, the only FIFA official elected directly by the organisation’s 211 Member Associations.
In turn, Infantino reiterated his confidence in Secretary General Mattias Grafström and the FIFA Administration, praising their contribution to implementing the organisation’s strategic vision.
While reaffirming that support, participants agreed that communication, coordination and decision-making between the President, the Secretary General and the Management Board should continue to evolve to improve both efficiency and effectiveness.
FIFA’s leadership also recognised the work of the administration in delivering a successful FIFA World Cup 2026, describing the tournament as an example of what can be achieved when the President, the Secretary General and the FIFA Administration operate with a shared purpose and a single voice.
Looking ahead, FIFA said it would work closely with confederations, regional associations and its Member Associations to explore new ways of strengthening football development through the FIFA Forward programme.
The organisation said the lessons learned from the FFE episode would help shape a more transparent and collaborative approach as it prepares for the next phase of global football development.
