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UEFA Sets Nov. 2 Deadline for FIFA to Answer Infantino Governance Questions
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UEFA demands FIFA release governance documents and answer questions by 2 November. Inquiry covers private investments, FIFA Forward Enterprises, and Infantino's expenses.
Deadline for FIFA documents
UEFA set a 2 November deadline for FIFA to release key documents and answer questions about governance and decision-making, after Gianni Infantino apologized for his World Cup sell-off plan but did not provide a full explanation of how the proposal was devised. UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis told FIFA that "a number of fundamental questions" remained unanswered and that "the information and documentation requested have not been provided," in a letter seen by BBC Sport. UEFA said its eight-page letter contained 42 questions covering issues including the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment, the FIFA Peace Prize, and the controversial suspended ban given to USA striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
Debbie Hewitt said afterwards that "if he doesn't answer those questions, he's not fit to be Fifa president," as FIFA faced demands for explanations over FFE and funding to associations. UEFA also demanded answers about why Infantino’s World Cup plan documents were not released at the FIFA Council meeting where he apologized, and UEFA warned that future governance reforms could not replace scrutiny of decisions already taken.
Financial and governance questions
Emisoras Unidas reported that seven European representatives on the FIFA Council demanded written answers by next November 2 about financial and administrative decisions tied to Gianni Infantino.
The European delegates asked FIFA to clarify an alleged additional payment to Infantino that would not appear in the annual financial report, housing expenses in Qatar and the United States, and the rental of offices in New York's Trump Tower.
The European delegates also demanded explanations about the independence of FIFA’s Electoral Commission, pointing to Swiss Bruno Chiomento and his roughly two-decade relationship with Infantino.
UEFA’s letter, as described by BBC Sport, included questions about the FFE project, including "Why was Thrive Capital selected as lead investor" without competitive tendering and under strict confidentiality.
The European delegates pressed FIFA to explain sporting decisions as well, including the decision to allow American Folarin Balogun to participate in the World Cup despite a prior sending-off, following a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Infantino.
Next steps and stakes
AP, via EverythingGP, said UEFA gave FIFA a Nov. 2 deadline to release documents relating to Gianni Infantino’s aborted attempts at a secretive investment plan for the World Cup and other governance issues.
EverythingGP reported that Infantino provided no documents about the $4.2 billion World Cup sell-off plan he launched and quickly dropped in July amid a backlash led by Europe.
Kooora said UEFA informed FIFA that it needed to issue key documents and answer all questions related to governance and decision-making by the deadline of 2 November, after Infantino apologized for his plan to sell clubs participating in the World Cup.
Kooora also quoted UEFA’s letter saying: "There are still questions unanswered, and the requested information and documents have not been provided," and it added that UEFA did not specify the steps it plans to take if FIFA does not meet the deadline.
Vanguard News said UEFA warned that several fundamental questions remained unanswered after Infantino apologized at Thursday’s FIFA Council meeting but did not release documents related to the proposal.