UEFA demands FIFA answers on Infantino governance disputes

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 19 Oct, 21:50 · Archive

UEFA has given FIFA a two-week deadline to answer 42 questions about governance issues under president Gianni Infantino.

UEFA has given FIFA a two-week deadline to release key documents and answer 42 questions about governance under president Gianni Infantino. The deadline is 2 November. The letter was sent by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafström on Monday, following a Fifa Council meeting in Zurich last Thursday.

The questions cover 12 topics across eight pages, addressing the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal and other governance issues. The FFE plan, introduced in July and valued at $4.2 billion (£3.2 billion), proposed selling a 20 per cent stake in a company to run the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. Infantino withdrew the proposal on 1 August after it was rejected by three continental confederations, including UEFA.

Theodoridis said that Infantino's withdrawal of FFE, his acknowledgement of mistakes and announcements 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". He wrote that explanations offered so far "have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions" and that "others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided".

The questions address the process for developing the FFE plan, why exclusivity as lead investor was granted to Joshua Kushner (the brother of the son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump), and how potential conflicts of interest related to family links to the Fifa Peace Prize winner were assessed. They also cover the valuation of FFE, the rationale for seeking private investment, and Infantino's personal salary arrangements.

Other issues covered include the handling of the suspended sanction against United States striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, the Fifa Peace Prize itself, financial transactions involving American singer Marc Anthony, and the independent functioning of Fifa's judicial, electoral and ethics bodies. UEFA also requested an immediate audio recording of the Zurich council meeting.

At the Zurich meeting, Infantino acknowledged mistakes had been made but declined to provide substantive answers, asking instead that questions be submitted in writing. Theodoridis rejected this approach as unsatisfactory, writing: "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." The letter did not outline what steps UEFA intended to take if FIFA failed to meet the deadline.

Infantino is standing for re-election as Fifa president for a third term, with the election scheduled for March. The Independent Sport reports that UEFA has also pursued legal action in American federal courts, seeking authorisation for subpoenas to compel document disclosure and sworn witness statements regarding the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal.

How it is being reported

• Gianni Infantino has just two-week deadline to come clean over failed Fifa World Cup sell-off planEuropean football's governing body has issued a fortnight ultimatum to Fifa, demanding the release of critical documents by November 2 concerning president Gianni Infantino's shelved investment scheme for the World Cup. The proposal, valued at $4.2billion (£3.2billion) and known as Fifa Forward Enterprise, was introduced by Infantino in July before being withdrawn following considerable resistance spearheaded by European members. Uefa has submitted a comprehensive list of 42 questions requiring answers from world football's governing authority. The demands follow a Fifa Council meeting last…GB News · 19 Oct, 21:37
• UEFA demands answers from FIFA over Infantino dealings in urgent letterUEFA is increasing the pressure on Gianni Infantino and has sent FIFA an urgent letter demanding answers to 42 detailed questions about his presidency.Sky Sports · 19 Oct, 20:12
• Uefa sets Fifa deadline for answers on Gianni Infantino controversiesInfantino is facing intense scrutiny ahead of March’s Fifa presidency electionIndependent Sport · 19 Oct, 20:10
• Uefa demands Fifa releases documents relating to World Cup sell-off schemeEuropean governing body gives two-week deadline Letter addresses other issues including Balogun affair Uefa has given Fifa a two-week deadline to release key documents relating to Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan and other governance issues in its latest devastating critique of the world governing body . A letter sent to Fifa’s general secretary, Mattias Grafström, by his counterpart at Uefa, Theodore Theodoridis, is accompanied by an eight-page document that includes more than 50 questions about Fifa’s handling of dozens of controversial issues over the past 12 months. These…The Guardian · 19 Oct, 19:52
• Uefa gives Infantino two-week deadline to release key documentsEuropean governing body Uefa tells Fifa it must release key documents related to its governance and decision-making by 2 November.BBC News · 19 Oct, 16:40
• UEFA writes to FIFA demanding answers on Trump-Infantino dealingsEuropean football chiefs have sent a list of 42 questions to FIFA, demanding answers about Gianni Infantino's alleged "conflicts of interest" over business dealings with the Trump family and the World Cup sell-off attempt.Sky News · 19 Oct, 15:05

In this story: UEFA · FIFA · Gianni Infantino · Theodore Theodoridis · Mattias Grafström · Joshua Kushner · Donald Trump · Folarin Balogun

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