UEFA gives FIFA two weeks to provide details about controversies under Infantino
UEFA has given FIFA two weeks to provide answers and supply documents related to a series of controversies during Gianni Infantino’s presidency.
European football’s governing body has written to FIFA calling for more information on the process followed in developing the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which proposed to sell a 20 per cent stake in a company to run the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.
The letter, seen by the Press Association, also seeks further clarity on the Folarin Balogun case but also asks questions about a wide range of other topics, including the duration of the World Cup final half-time show, the introduction of hydration breaks at the finals and the origins of the FIFA Peace Prize.
European members of the FIFA Council quizzed Infantino in Zurich last week, with Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt confirming after the meeting that Council members were asked to submit questions in writing.
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has now written to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom setting out a series of questions on the Council members’ behalf, calling for all answers and relevant documents to be supplied by November 2.
UEFA announced in August it had lost confidence in Infantino over the FFE plan, and has said it will identify a credible alternative candidate to stand against him in next year’s FIFA presidential elections. The deadline for candidates to be submitted is November 18.
Infantino withdrew the FFE proposal on August 1 after it was rejected by three continental confederations, including UEFA. Theodoridis’ letter pointed out that the withdrawal, Infantino’s 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”.
The letter seeks answers on why exclusivity as lead investor was granted to Joshua Kushner, the brother of the son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump, and how those family links to the winner of the FIFA Peace Prize – and the potential conflict of interest – were assessed and addressed.
The letter also asked further questions around the valuation placed on FFE and the rationale for seeking private investment in the first place.
The letter called for all documents related to the Balogun case to be supplied, including any correspondence between the FIFA disciplinary committee which suspended his one-match ban and the FIFA administration.
UEFA also sought 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 also raised concerns around the independence of the FIFA presidential election process. It said the chair of the electoral committee, Bruno Chiomento, has known Infantino for 20 years and had been at the World Cup for its full five-week duration with all his expenses covered by FIFA.
“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 UEFA letter asked.
FIFA has been approached for comment.
Published: by Radio NewsHub