Infantino offers Fifa governance overhaul after World Cup rights backlash

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn his controversial proposal to sell a stake in the organisation’s commercial rights and offered an independent review of its decision-making structure, only months before an election that could threaten his position.

In a formal letter sent on Monday to the Fifa Council and the presidents of its 211 member associations, seen by Reuters, Infantino said he was ready to consider fundamental reforms to the organisation’s governance.

The first proposal is for an independent external body to conduct a full review of Fifa’s current governance framework in relation to major strategic initiatives and recommend possible improvements.

The second would involve wide-ranging consultations with the confederations and member associations to establish who should have authority over major decisions. That review would consider the respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, as well as ways to improve transparency and accountability.

“I realise that this, without the full context being clear, has raised concerns and given the impression that decisions had already been taken, which is not the case,” Infantino wrote.

“It remained a proposal only, not a decision, and was always subject to the approval of the Council and the member associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not be adopted.”

Proposal triggered opposition

The move follows the backlash over Infantino’s plan to sell 20% of Fifa’s commercial rights, including the rights to the World Cup, to private-sector investors in an effort to increase funding for football development.

The proposal was abandoned last July after widespread criticism and threats of boycotts. It also led three major confederations – Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf – to publicly call for changes to Fifa’s leadership.

Infantino defended the plan by saying it would not have involved surrendering control of sporting decisions. However, he acknowledged that the proposal had been published before it was presented in full to the Council and the member associations.

Despite the dispute, Infantino remains the favourite to win another term in the election scheduled for next March in Rabat, Morocco.

People familiar with the situation told Reuters that his opponents were struggling to find a candidate capable of challenging him. Infantino is still believed to have enough support to win, prompting his critics to shift their focus towards limiting the extent of his powers instead.

Infantino said he had heard differing views about which body should decide major matters. Some favour requiring consensus within the Bureau, while others want such issues to be put directly before the Fifa Congress.

“It is not my role to prejudge this discussion,” he wrote.

Initial proposals will be discussed on 15 October, with further suggestions potentially considered later. Any changes to Fifa’s statutes would require approval from the Congress.

Seeking to reassure associations concerned about possible retaliation, Infantino added: “No association will be treated differently because of its position on any proposal or institutional matter.”

He concluded: “I remain fully committed to leading Fifa and have confidence in what we can achieve together.”