FIFA Council gets no sell-off papers as Infantino apologises
Gianni Infantino apologised to the FIFA Council for how he handled the abandoned plan to sell private investors stakes in Fifa competitions, but FA chair Debbie Hewitt said members received no answers to their questions or the requested documents. Hewitt said Infantino was not fit to lead unless he provided them; Infantino said the proposal had been permanently withdrawn and would not return.
Bottom line — FIFA's presidential nomination deadline is 18 November, and Infantino is seeking re-election in March.
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The42 reported that German Football Association head Bernd Neuendorf also said Infantino gave no satisfactory answers at the closed-door meeting in Zurich.
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The Guardian reported that Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation oppose Infantino’s re-election, but had not agreed on a challenger.
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The Guardian said sources expect a rival to wait until close to the 18 November deadline to declare their candidacy.
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BBC Sport reported that some European football figures want former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger to run, but he has not indicated that he will.
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BBC Sport said a candidate needs nominations from at least five national associations; former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega is the only person to have declared an intention to run.
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The42 reported that Fifa plans a $6.35bn (€5.61bn) development fund over four years, including payments of $25m (€22.1m) to each of its 211 member federations.