FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent review of the way the world football body operates, stating that he is open to reform. Infantino sent a letter to the members of the FIFA Council and all national associations, in which he explains that the independent process should "recommend possible improvements".
Ahead of the council meeting next month, Infantino states that he is proposing a consultation on how decision-making in FIFA can be further strengthened. This consultation would include proposals on the role of the president and "practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives". The consultation will, as stated, be conducted with the confederations, member associations and "relevant stakeholders".
Infantino is under increasing pressure following the rejection of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which envisaged the sale of stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. According to the plan, a new company would manage the commercial and sales rights of all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, with 21 per cent of the stake sold to a private investment company. The proposal met with strong opposition.
In the letter, Infantino writes: "Over the past few weeks I have taken time to listen before writing to you." He states that the FFE plan "did not involve a waiver of the control or authority of FIFA over sporting decisions. Obviously!" He adds that the "proposal was made public before the institutional process in FIFA was completed and before it could be fully presented to the Council and member associations".
"I recognise that this, without full context, has caused concern and created the impression that decisions have already been made. They have not," says Infantino. He states that "democratic processes, independence and sporting authority are not for sale. They are not for sale and never will be". He stresses that he remains "fully committed to leading FIFA and is confident in what we can achieve together".
The letter comes after UEFA and Concacaf requested that FIFA pay $10 million to all 211 member associations from their cash reserves. UEFA is the confederation for Europe, while Concacaf covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Infantino claims that the collapse of the FFE does not diminish his ambition or the responsibility to invest more of FIFA's success back into football.
"We will continue to explore sustainable ways to grow FIFA's resources and expand support for each member association," he adds in the letter. "What is changing is not the ambition, but the strength of the process through which great ideas are developed, tested and decided upon." He writes that "the progress we have made over the last decade gives us a strong foundation for the future" and that this "gives us the confidence to examine whether our governance is still appropriate for the scale and complexity of the decisions we face".
Earlier this month, Debbie Hewitt, the president of the Football Association, requested that Infantino publish all documents related to his controversial plan. The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian head of FIFA is set to stand for re-election in March 2027, with opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.
Last month, the European body UEFA began preparing a legal challenge against Infantino in US courts over the FFE plan, while also requesting the disclosure of all documents. FIFA has responded, accusing UEFA of a "campaign of defamation against itself and its leadership" in challenging the lawsuit. The FIFA Council will meet on 15 October for the first time since the crisis began.
Many of Infantino's critics are calling for a thorough overhaul of FIFA's governance. They are calling for limits on the president's powers, such as a maximum of one term in office, a greater separation between the president and the administration of FIFA, a stronger focus on human rights and sustainability, and a redistribution of FIFA's cash reserves.
