Summary
- FIFA will allow members of its ruling Council to examine key documents concerning its abandoned proposal to attract private investment into the World Cup, amid growing tensions with European football governing body UEFA.
- The decision was communicated to all 37 Council members, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and eight vice-presidents, through a letter from Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom on Monday.
- Following a FIFA Council meeting on October 15, UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis had sent Grafstrom a letter outlining more than 40 questions about the project.
FIFA will allow members of its ruling Council to examine key documents concerning its abandoned proposal to attract private investment into the World Cup, amid growing tensions with European football governing body UEFA.
The decision was communicated to all 37 Council members, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and eight vice-presidents, through a letter from Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom on Monday. Members have been given two weeks to request access to the documents, which will be available for inspection at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, under specific conditions.
The development comes after UEFA’s November 2 deadline for FIFA to respond to more than 40 questions and information requests regarding the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal expired without a response.
Introduced in late July, the plan aimed to open FIFA’s premium competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. However, Infantino quickly withdrew the proposal following widespread criticism.
UEFA has strongly opposed the initiative and has taken legal action in Florida to obtain evidence that could support a potential complaint against Infantino over alleged criminal mismanagement in Switzerland.
Following a FIFA Council meeting on October 15, UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis had sent Grafstrom a letter outlining more than 40 questions about the project. The European body also raised concerns over FIFA’s decision to award US President Donald Trump a FIFA Peace Prize and the suspension of a red card given to American player Folarin Balogun after an intervention by Trump.
FIFA defended its failure to meet UEFA’s deadline, describing a response within the given timeframe as impractical.
Meanwhile, Infantino is preparing to seek another term as FIFA president in March. Potential challengers must declare their candidacies by November 18, although UEFA has yet to identify a strong rival.
The Asian Football Confederation has already endorsed Infantino’s re-election bid, announcing its support on October 23. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani has also been discussed as a possible contender but is expected to pursue another term leading the North American confederation.
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