The key facts

  • FIFA Council members must apply within two weeks for an in-person review of the documents in Zurich
  • UEFA received no answers from FIFA by the 2 November deadline — the organisation is seeking the materials through a court in Florida
  • Infantino is standing for re-election in March; the AFC has backed him, while UEFA has no candidate yet

Access to FFE documents

FIFA has notified the members of its Council, including all vice-presidents, that they will be given access to the 'key documents' concerning the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project — a shelved initiative of the organisation's president Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in premium tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors. This was reported by a source close to FIFA. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, in a letter on Monday, informed the 37 Council members, including Infantino and the eight vice-presidents, that those wishing to review the documents 'in person and under certain conditions' must request this 'within two weeks'. The documents can be examined at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich.

Conflict with UEFA and a deadline without a reply

The step was taken after 2 November, when the deadline UEFA — the project's main opponent — had given FIFA to answer questions about the FFE expired. Following the Council meeting on 15 October, UEFA Secretary General Theodore Theodoridis sent Grafström a letter with more than 40 questions and requests for information. UEFA also raised other matters: the decision to award the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump and the rescinding of the red card shown to United States national team player Folarin Balogun at the World Cup after the intervention of the American president. FIFA did not respond by the deadline, calling it 'impractical'. The FFE project was revealed in late July and sparked an outcry, after which Infantino quickly abandoned it. Nevertheless, UEFA turned to a Florida court to gather evidence for a possible complaint in Switzerland against the FIFA president for 'criminal mismanagement'.

Re-election context

Infantino is standing for re-election as FIFA president in March. The deadline for registering rivals is 18 November, but UEFA has not yet found a credible candidate. The Asian Football Confederation announced its support for Infantino on 23 October. CONCACAF head Victor Montagliani, who was seen as a possible contender, declared his intention to stand for re-election as head of the North American confederation, making his participation in the race unlikely. Former Tottenham, Celtic and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega said he was ready to stand, but whether he will receive the necessary support remains unclear.