Infantino Offers Independent Review of Fifa Governance After World Cup Sale Backlash
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of the organisation's governance, according to the Guardian, following weeks of pressure over a collapsed World Cup investment plan.
Infantino wrote to Fifa's council and all 211 member associations outlining two possible steps toward reform, to be discussed at a council meeting in Zurich on October 15.
The first proposal asks the council whether it wants to commission an independent review of Fifa's governance framework for major strategic initiatives.
The second calls for a time-limited consultation with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on how Fifa's decision-making could be strengthened, including the roles of the president, the bureau, the council and the congress.
How Pressure Built Over Fifa Forward Enterprise
The Guardian first revealed last month that several Fifa council members had been lobbying for an external review of two matters: the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise sell-off and the Folarin Balogun controversy.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, added to that pressure by writing to Infantino demanding the release of all documents tied to both issues.
The Fifa Forward Enterprise plan would have created a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights across Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% of it sold to a private investment firm, the BBC reported.
Infantino has said the plan never involved giving up Fifa's control over sporting decisions, and that the process was halted before it reached the council or member associations in full.
Letter Stops Short of Hewitt's Demand
The Guardian noted that Infantino's letter does not commit to reviewing the Fifa Forward Enterprise sell-off or the Balogun matter specifically.
Infantino told members he had spent recent weeks listening before writing to them, per the BBC. He said he remains fully committed to leading Fifa and confident in what the organisation can achieve together.
Other Financial Pressure on Fifa
Uefa and Concacaf have separately demanded Fifa distribute $10 million to each of its 211 member associations from its cash reserves, which the Guardian put at roughly $6 billion.
Uefa has also begun preparing legal proceedings against Infantino in US courts over the Fifa Forward Enterprise plan, according to the BBC, while Fifa has accused Uefa of running a smear campaign against the organisation and its leadership.
Fifa Council's Next Move
The Fifa Council is made up of 28 representatives from the six confederations, eight vice-presidents and Infantino himself.
The Guardian reported the council is all but certain to approve commissioning an external review at the October 15 meeting, though its terms of reference will determine whether it produces real change or simply shores up Infantino's position.
Infantino is standing for a fourth term as Fifa president in March 2027. Any rival candidate has until November 18 to come forward, the BBC reported.