International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has decided to release key documents related to the controversy surrounding President Gianni Infantino’s push to sell World Cup shares to private investors. However, access to these documents will be restricted to FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, prolonging the ongoing dispute with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
The BBC reported on Tuseday that FIFA plans to disclose essential documents to FIFA Council members regarding the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.
The FFE was Infantino’s plan to sell World Cup-related shares to private investors, which he later withdrew. This move raised concerns about FIFA’s internal decision-making processes and transparency.
Last month, UEFA demanded FIFA respond to over 100 questions about the FFE’s development and decision-making processes by November 2.
Infantino had previously apologized during a FIFA Council meeting for pursuing the plan but failed to provide sufficient details about the circumstances.
Just hours before UEFA’s deadline, FIFA announced a limited document release policy.
In a letter obtained by the BBC, FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafström informed Council members they would have access to key FFE-related documents.
However, to view these documents, Council members must visit FIFA’s Zurich headquarters and follow strict confidentiality procedures. They have two weeks to apply for access, but the specific documents to be released remain undisclosed.
FIFA also stated it would be challenging to provide immediate answers to UEFA’s questions.
Grafström explained that UEFA’s request includes far more questions than anticipated. It’s currently preparing responses and will share them with Council members at an appropriate time.
He emphasized that the FFE plan couldn’t have proceeded without approval from a majority of the FIFA Council and member associations, and there were no penalties for withdrawing the plan.
UEFA, however, maintains that simply withdrawing the plan and apologizing doesn’t resolve the accountability issues.
In a previous letter to FIFA, UEFA demanded immediate clarification, stating that the FFE withdrawal and admission of mistakes don’t explain how decisions were made or why the FIFA Council failed to intervene at appropriate stages.
The conflict has escalated into legal disputes.
UEFA initiated legal proceedings in the U.S. last month to demand the release of related evidence and documents, and warned of potential criminal charges in Switzerland.
UEFA’s eight-page questionnaire covers not only FFE issues but also the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to former U.S. President Donald Trump and disciplinary matters concerning U.S. striker Folarin Balogun regarding the World Cup.
This controversy is expected to burden Infantino as he approaches next year’s FIFA presidential election. The deadline for potential challengers to announce their candidacy is set for November 18.
