International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino reportedly apologised to his harshest critics during a tense council meeting, yet failed to provide new details or documentation regarding controversial financial initiatives. Sources noted that no official paperwork was presented concerning the $4.2bn World Cup commercial rights sell-off plan that was launched and subsequently dropped in July.

Pressed by European football officials for written evidence regarding his secretive private equity arrangement involving venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, Infantino allegedly sidestepped direct answers. Debbie Hewitt, leader of the English Football Association and a FIFA vice-president, asserted that failure to properly address these inquiries leaves the official unfit to retain the presidency.

The European regime, spearheaded by UEFA, is reportedly maintaining its campaign to remove Infantino ahead of or during the upcoming presidential election in March. German football chief Bernd Neuendorf stated that the council received no satisfactory explanations, emphasizing the urgent need for integrity to repair the association's severely damaged reputation. Meanwhile, legal maneuvers in US and Swiss courts continue as opponents seek evidence for potential financial mismanagement complaints against the leadership.

Source: www.aljazeera.com