FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued his first public apology following the announcement and subsequent withdrawal of a controversial FIFA plan that involved selling stakes or private investment interests connected to the World Cup. Multiple reports say the apology comes after FIFA leadership acknowledged that the scheme was mishandled. Yahoo Sports reports that Infantino signed a letter in which FIFA’s top officials accept that the plan was handled poorly, presenting it as a formal recognition of error. The Manchester Evening News similarly characterizes the apology as Infantino’s first since the proposal was made and then taken back. Both outlets indicate the developments are part of a broader response to criticism over how the plan was carried out and communicated. The reports do not present new operational details of the plan itself, but they agree that the apology and admission reflect a shift in FIFA’s position after the scheme was withdrawn.