FIFA crisis: secretary general calls for calm

The crisis sparked by the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project continues to shake the very foundations of world football. For the first time since the controversy erupted, FIFA Secretary General, Sweden's Mattias Grafström, has broken his silence with an internal message addressed to the organization’s staff.

"We have all been plunged into chaos"

According to Sky reports, Mattias Grafström described recent events as "a sad and regrettable turning point", acknowledging that the current situation is difficult to comprehend.

We have all been plunged into chaos that is hard to understand and accept. But as secretary general, I ask you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and our 211 member associations, in line with FIFA’s statutes and regulations.

The Swedish executive also sought to reassure FIFA staff, stating that they would be shielded from the repercussions of this institutional crisis.

Infantino absent from the message

Notably, Gianni Infantino is never mentioned in this letter, even though the FIFA president has been at the center of criticism since the FFE project was abandoned. This omission is all the more striking considering Mattias Grafström has been seen as one of his closest allies since they both joined FIFA in 2016, following several years together at UEFA.

The secretary general concluded his message by urging the teams to maintain their professionalism amid the turbulence:

Individuals, periods of instability, and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission, and its responsibility to global football endure.

A signal that FIFA is determined to regain control of its narrative after several days marked by unprecedented international criticism.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

World Cup