The key facts

  • UEFA gave Infantino a deadline of 2 November to provide documents and answers to questions on FIFA governance (BBC Sport)
  • The letter contains eight pages of questions about FFE, the FIFA Peace Prize and the lifting of Balogun's suspension
  • Infantino is running for re-election at the FIFA congress in Rabat in March 2027

UEFA demanded answers from FIFA

UEFA has set FIFA president Gianni Infantino a deadline of 2 November to provide key documents and answers to remaining questions concerning the governance and decision-making process of the organisation. This is reported by BBC Sport, citing a letter signed by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis. According to him, after the FIFA Council meeting on Thursday, the organisation did not answer 'a number of fundamental questions', and the requested information and documentation were not provided.

Eight pages of questions

The letter contains eight pages of questions concerning several FIFA decisions: the proposal for private investment FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the FIFA Peace Prize and the lifting of the suspension of United States national team player Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. The demand came despite the fact that Infantino apologised at the FIFA Council meeting on Thursday for mistakes in communication and consultations regarding the rejected FFE project. Under the proposal, a FIFA-controlled company was to be created to manage the commercial rights to FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, with the sale of a minority stake to private investors.

Accountability for past decisions

'The withdrawal of FFE, the acknowledgement of mistakes and the announcement of 'potential governance reforms' do not answer the question of how the relevant decisions were made and why the FIFA Council was not involved at the proper stage,' the letter says. UEFA warned that the remaining questions cannot be postponed until the next FIFA Council meeting, and future reforms cannot replace accountability for past decisions. Infantino intends to stand for re-election at the FIFA congress in Rabat (Morocco) in March 2027 amid growing scrutiny of his leadership and calls for his resignation that have been sounding since the summer in connection with the FFE project, which was ultimately abandoned.