Fifa president Gianni Infantino appears to be trying to move back to business as usual after a failed private investment plan connected to the World Cup.
The development places renewed attention on Infantino’s leadership at the top of Fifa, with the episode framed against the wider realities of a role associated with political relationships, high-level access and considerable influence.
The supplied material does not set out the details of the proposed investment plan, why it failed, or who was involved beyond Infantino and Fifa. It also does not specify the timing of the plan or any formal response from Fifa.
What is clear is that the collapse of the proposal has created a challenge for Infantino as he attempts to restore normal operations. The suggestion that this may not be straightforward points to continuing scrutiny of the Fifa president’s position and the way power is exercised around the organisation’s biggest tournament.
For now, Infantino’s apparent aim is to return to routine leadership after the setback. Whether that can happen smoothly remains uncertain on the basis of the available information.
