Fifa has promised to improve its governance and decision-making processes after acknowledging mistakes in the handling of its withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
The world football governing body made the commitment following a high-level meeting in Rabat, Morocco, attended by Fifa President Gianni Infantino, the Secretary General and members of the Fifa Management Board.
Fifa said the meeting was intended to reinforce unity, transparency and good governance within the organisation while rebuilding confidence among its stakeholders.
The governing body admitted that shortcomings in the consultation process surrounding the FFE proposal had contributed to tensions with the Fifa Council and its 211 Member Associations.
Fifa said it had not intended for either the council or member associations to feel excluded from discussions about the project.
It also acknowledged that communication problems became worse after details of the proposal were leaked to the media.
The organisation has sent a separate letter of apology to the Fifa Council and all 211 member associations, accepting responsibility for the mistakes and promising that similar problems would not be repeated.
A full review of the FFE process will now be conducted, with the findings due to be presented at the next Fifa Council meeting.
Fifa confirmed that the Forward Enterprise proposal has been completely withdrawn and is no longer being considered.
The governing body nevertheless said that the steps taken in relation to the proposal complied fully with its regulatory framework, despite the procedural errors that occurred.
The issue was a major focus of the Rabat meeting, which also examined how Fifa’s senior leadership can improve communication, coordination and decision-making.
According to Fifa, the organisation’s existing structures have produced significant successes but can still be made more effective and efficient.
The Fifa Management Board unanimously reaffirmed its support for Infantino during the meeting, describing him as the only official elected by Fifa’s 211 Member Associations.
Infantino, in turn, expressed his full backing for the Secretary General and the Fifa Administration.
The Fifa president praised the administration’s work in carrying out his vision for the development of world football.
The leadership also highlighted the successful organisation of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, saying the tournament’s delivery was the result of close cooperation between Infantino, the Secretary General and the wider administration.
Fifa said the experience demonstrated the value of collaboration across its leadership and administrative structures.
The Rabat discussions are expected to influence how the organisation operates in the future, with Fifa saying the agreed measures should strengthen its governance framework and restore confidence among stakeholders.
The organisation also wants the changes to improve its ability to respond to future competitions and emerging challenges while maintaining its wider objective of developing football globally.
The withdrawn FFE proposal will now be used as an opportunity for further review and reform.
Rather than pursuing the initiative, Fifa said it would work with the confederations, regional associations and all 211 member associations to examine ways of improving the existing FIFA Forward Programme.
The programme is intended to support continued investment in football development across Fifa’s membership.
Fifa said lessons from the FFE episode would be incorporated into future decision-making, with particular attention to consultation, communication and coordination.
The governing body also said it would continue to defend its standards on integrity and governance, as well as its reputation.
The commitments made in Rabat therefore represent an effort by Fifa’s leadership to address the shortcomings exposed by the FFE process while maintaining its existing development programmes.
The organisation said it remained committed to unity, transparency and good governance as it prepares for future challenges in world football.
