Gianni Infantino backed by Saudi football federation

Saudi Arabia's Football Federation backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday after FIFA abandoned a proposal to bring private investment into a commercial vehicle for some of its biggest competitions.

The federation, from the country that will host the 2034 World Cup, welcomed an August 5 open letter by Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom that acknowledged mistakes, apologised, said FIFA would not proceed with the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal and promised a review.

The Saudi federation called those steps important and said it supported FIFA leadership's efforts to restore unity across football.

The proposal would have allowed private investors to take stakes in a company created under FIFA Forward Enterprise to run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. UEFA objected after the plan emerged in late July, and the Asian Football Confederation, UEFA and CONCACAF renewed criticism in a joint August 10 letter.

Saudi Arabia joins Qatar and several other Asian member associations in taking a different line from the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino, who is seeking a fourth and final term as FIFA president at an election next March in Rabat, has rejected calls for his resignation.