UEFA gives FIFA November 2 deadline to answer governance questions amid Gianni Infantino scrutiny

UEFA has given FIFA until November 2 to release key documents and answer outstanding questions about its governance and decision-making, intensifying pressure on president Gianni Infantino following controversy over his proposed World Cup sell-off plan.

In a letter seen by BBC Sport, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis accused world football’s governing body of failing to address “a number of fundamental questions” despite Infantino’s apology at Thursday’s FIFA Council meeting.

The eight-page letter outlines concerns ranging from the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment proposal to the FIFA Peace Prize and the controversial suspended ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.

UEFA wants FIFA to provide a detailed account of how key decisions were reached, the documentation behind them and the extent to which the FIFA Council was involved in the process.

Infantino’s apology fails to settle concerns

Infantino apologised for his World Cup sell-off plan at the FIFA Council meeting but did not provide a comprehensive explanation of how the proposal was developed.

UEFA said the apology and subsequent withdrawal of the FFE proposal had not resolved the questions surrounding FIFA’s decision-making process.

“The withdrawal of FFE, the acknowledgement of mistakes and the announcement of ‘potential governance reforms’ do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the Fifa Council was not involved at the appropriate stage,” Theodoridis wrote.

The European governing body also challenged FIFA to justify any refusal to provide the requested information, insisting that each withheld document must be accompanied by a clear explanation of the grounds for withholding it.

“Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided,” the letter stated.

UEFA’s intervention signals that the dispute extends beyond the abandoned investment proposal, with the organisation seeking greater transparency over several decisions taken under Infantino’s leadership.

Eight pages of questions put FIFA under pressure

The questions were first presented to Infantino at the FIFA Council meeting last week, with UEFA now demanding substantive answers rather than assurances about possible changes to governance procedures.

Theodoridis warned that FIFA could not postpone its response until the next council meeting or rely on future reforms to address concerns about decisions already taken.

“These questions require answers now. They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the Fifa Council – nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them,” he added.

The letter covers a range of issues, including the FFE private investment plan, the FIFA Peace Prize and the suspended ban involving Balogun.

By including these matters in its request, UEFA is seeking explanations across several areas of FIFA’s operations rather than limiting its scrutiny to the controversy surrounding the proposed investment arrangement.

However, UEFA has not outlined the action it would take if FIFA fails to meet the November 2 deadline.

FA chair issues stark warning to Infantino

The pressure on Infantino has also come from within FIFA’s leadership, with Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt publicly questioning his position if he fails to provide the requested answers.

Hewitt, who serves as a FIFA vice-president, spoke after the council meeting and made clear that she expected Infantino to respond to the concerns raised.

“If he doesn’t answer those questions, he’s not fit to be Fifa president,” she said.

Her remarks underline the seriousness of the dispute, with UEFA and senior figures within FIFA seeking explanations about the organisation’s governance and accountability.

FIFA has been approached for comment on UEFA’s letter and its November 2 deadline.

With the deadline approaching, attention will turn to whether Infantino’s administration provides the requested documents and explanations, and whether FIFA’s response addresses the concerns raised by its European governing body.