English FA chief demands FIFA investigation into Infantino’s World Cup sale plan

Debbie Hewitt, chair of The Football Association and a FIFA vice-president, has called for a full investigation into Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

The intervention escalates an increasingly public dispute over the FIFA president’s leadership, after the proposal was abandoned following worldwide criticism.

According to The Sun, Hewitt sent a strongly worded letter to Infantino and FIFA secretary general Matthias Grafstrom demanding the immediate release of every document connected to the proposed sale. The request comes ahead of a decisive FIFA Council meeting next month.

Hewitt said all council members should have access to the complete files and called for an independent review, despite FIFA announcing that the proposals had been withdrawn.

Her demands also include an official explanation of a controversial decision involving United States striker Folarin Balogun and his suspension from this summer’s World Cup.

Balogun was originally due to miss the last-16 match against Belgium after being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, his ban was suspended for a full year after direct contact from United States president Donald Trump, allowing the forward to play.

The latest challenge comes as Infantino maintains his position despite the mounting pressure and continues to insist he will stand for re-election in March.

The plan to sell World Cup stakes was leaked before being abandoned amid international condemnation. Its opponents, led by UEFA, subsequently increased pressure on Infantino. UEFA threatened to withdraw from all future FIFA competitions unless he resigned, although it withdrew that threat in August after receiving a commitment that the project would not be revived.

The dispute has since moved into the courts. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have launched legal action accusing Infantino of fraud in valuing the tournament at £15bn and calling on Swiss authorities to intervene.

They have also filed document-disclosure lawsuits in three US states: New York, Florida and Colorado.

A number of national associations, including The Football Association, have now formally withdrawn letters of support for Infantino. The move is being seen as a clear indication that next March’s election contest could become the fiercest in FIFA’s history.