Infantino Apologises to Fifa Council, But Is Told He Still Falls Short

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has apologised to the organisation's Council over his World Cup sell-off plan. The apology, however, has not closed the matter. Council members are asking for more, and the reaction suggests many are not yet convinced he is the right person to lead the governing body.

The plan has been the focus of the dispute, and Infantino's expression of regret has been treated as a starting point rather than a resolution. Asking a president to go further after an apology is a pointed step. It signals that some members see the problem as one of leadership and accountability, not just of a single misjudgement.

Infantino has led Fifa since 2016, and questions about governance have followed him through much of his time in charge. This latest episode adds to that record at a moment when the body is under close scrutiny over how it makes decisions around the World Cup.

It is not yet clear what further steps the Council will demand, or whether Infantino will meet them. What is clear is that a verbal apology is no longer enough for everyone involved.