UEFA has given FIFA two weeks to provide answers and supply documents on a series of controversies from Gianni Infantino's presidency. European football's governing body wants more information on how the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan was developed, the proposal that would have sold a 20% stake in a company running the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has written to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom, setting out the Council members' questions and calling for all answers and relevant documents to be supplied by 2 November. The letter also seeks clarity on the Folarin Balogun case, along with questions on the length of the World Cup final half-time show, the introduction of hydration breaks at the finals and the origins of the FIFA Peace Prize.
Theodoridis' letter noted that Infantino's withdrawal of the FFE proposal, his acknowledgement of mistakes and pledges for potential governance reform "do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the FIFA Council was not involved at the appropriate stage." Infantino withdrew the FFE plan on 1 August after it was rejected by three continental confederations, including UEFA.
The letter asks why exclusivity as lead investor was granted to Joshua Kushner, brother of the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and how his family's links to the winner of the FIFA Peace Prize were assessed for a potential conflict of interest. It also seeks answers on the valuation placed on FFE and the rationale for seeking private investment in the first place.
UEFA called for all documents related to the Balogun case to be handed over, including any correspondence between the FIFA disciplinary committee that suspended his one-match ban and the FIFA administration. The letter also asked for information on a recent Times report concerning a payment made to Infantino by FIFA's 2026 World Cup organising company in 2024, and why the payment was not disclosed in FIFA's annual report.
UEFA additionally raised concerns about the independence of the FIFA presidential election process, pointing out that the chair of the electoral committee, Bruno Chiomento, has known Infantino for 20 years and had his expenses covered by FIFA for the full five weeks of the World Cup. "In view of the importance of ensuring the independence and perceived impartiality of the electoral process, would FIFA consider Mr Chiomento's recusal and replacement by his deputy for the duration of the presidential election?" the letter asked.
European members of the FIFA Council questioned Infantino in Zurich last week, with English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt confirming afterwards that Council members were asked to submit their questions in writing. UEFA announced in August that it had lost confidence in Infantino over the FFE plan and said it will identify a credible alternative candidate to stand against him in next year's FIFA presidential election; the deadline for candidates to be submitted is 18 November.
FIFA Council members have also been pressing Infantino to abolish or alter the Peace Prize, which was never formally approved by the Council. FIFA's Football Social Responsibility Committee is set to present a proposal, with a final decision expected at the FIFA Council meeting in Doha on 16 December. FIFA has been approached for comment on UEFA's letter.
