Overview
- On Thursday October 15 Gianni Infantino publicly apologised at a three-and-a-half-hour FIFA Council meeting but left many key questions about the summer controversies unanswered.
- UEFA leaders and the German FA said they have lost trust and reiterated calls for his resignation while pressing to find a challenger before the 18 November nomination deadline.
- The Council created a governance working group led by FIFA vice-president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa to curb unilateral projects but set no timetable for reforms.
- Several non-European council members publicly backed Infantino and he put forward plans to raise annual payouts to member associations, a move critics say strengthens his influence over votes.
- The presidential vote is scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, candidates must be nominated by 18 November, and high-profile names have been speculated about though no challenger has been confirmed.