Internal email exposes crisis at FIFA and increases pressure on Infantino

In the text, Grafström classifies recent events as “reprehensible and sad” and states that the FFE proposal was definitively abandoned. The project envisaged the creation of a subsidiary open to private investment to concentrate the commercial operations of competitions organized by FIFA, including the World Cup.

“We have all been placed in the middle of a mess that is difficult to understand and accept,” wrote the secretary general.

He asked employees to remain focused on the entity's activities and serving the 211 affiliated national federations.

“As general secretary, I ask that you remain focused on what brought us together: serving football and our 211 member associations, together with all stakeholders and in full compliance with FIFA statutes and regulations,” he said.

Grafström also sought to reassure the teams in the face of the political crisis in the organization. According to him, employees will be protected from disputes involving the entity's leadership.

"I guarantee that, as members of the administration, you will be defended and preserved from the political context we are living in right now. You don't need to worry," he wrote.

Afterwards, the secretary general stated that leaders and periods of instability are temporary, while FIFA's institutional mission must continue.

"Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility to football remain", he declared.

At the end of the message, Grafström thanked the employees for their commitment, resilience and dedication. He also stated that he will continue to be available to support the teams as long as his work is recognized by the people and institutions served by FIFA.

The disclosure of the email increases pressure on Gianni Infantino, president of the organization since February 2016. Grafström has worked alongside the director since the Italian-Swiss succeeded Sepp Blatter as head of the organization.

The FFE proposal was presented at the end of last week, but faced immediate rejection from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. Together, these entities represent more than half of the votes of the 211 federations that make up FIFA.

Resistance to the project also cast doubt on support for Infantino's continued presidency. The election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, and the deadline for submitting candidacies ends on November 18.

Before the crisis, the leader had already gathered more than 200 letters of support and was working on the possibility of contesting the election without opponents. The succession of controversies, however, reduced the chances of a single candidacy.

The federations of Wales, England, Sweden and Serbia have already announced their support for Infantino's reappointment. Other entities may also position themselves in the coming days.

According to the New York Post, the FIFA president tried to contact Donald Trump, believing that the United States president's influence could help recover votes among the federations. The attempts would not have progressed.

Alternatively, Infantino would have scheduled a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting, however, was suddenly cancelled.

FIFA riot against Infantino: "It's a total shame"

Employees and directors criticize the leadership of the entity's president and point to the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise as the trigger for the crisis. England and Wales have already withdrawn support for Infantino's candidacy for a new term