FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting amid mounting criticism of the organisation, according to a report from Bangladeshi news outlet এখন টিভি. The meeting is taking place in Morocco, as confirmed by separate reporting from প্রথম আলো.
The move comes as Infantino faces significant backlash, with some reports mentioning allegations of blackmail being raised in connection with the discussions. The exact nature of the criticism and the specific agenda of the emergency meeting have not been detailed in the available reporting.
এখন টিভি reports that the decision to convene the meeting follows a period of intense public scrutiny directed at FIFA's leadership. The outlet notes that the criticism has been widespread enough to prompt this urgent response from Infantino.
প্রথম আলো's coverage adds that the Morocco location is significant, though the reasoning behind the choice of venue has not been explained. The same report confirms that blackmail allegations have been brought up in relation to the ongoing situation.
The meeting arrives at a time when FIFA's leadership has faced recurring controversy. According to Jugantor, all three FIFA presidents over the past 52 years have been embroiled in disputes of some kind, placing Infantino's current troubles within a longer pattern of organisational turbulence.
However, Infantino is not without backing. দ্য ডেইলি স্টার বাংলা reports that five influential football officials from Africa have expressed support for the FIFA president amid the criticism.
Separately, দৈনিক ইনকিলাব has reported that Infantino did not seek support from former US President Donald Trump, though the context of that decision remains unclear from the available information.
What to watch next: Whether the emergency meeting produces any concrete response to the criticism or the blackmail allegations raised in the reports.
