FIFA will allow council members to view "key documents" about President Gianni Infantino's failed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom informed members they can review paperwork in person at FIFA's Zurich headquarters under strict confidentiality protocols within two weeks.
The move follows UEFA's November 2 deadline for FIFA to release FFE details and answer over 100 questions on governance, funding, the controversial Fifa Peace Prize awarded to Donald Trump, and Folarin Balogun's suspended ban. UEFA's eight-page letter demanded immediate accountability, stating governance reforms cannot substitute for scrutiny of past decisions.
FIFA deemed UEFA's two-week deadline unfeasible, citing focus on organizing a youth World Cup in Azerbaijan and preparing for an extraordinary congress. Sources indicate FIFA's responses are also constrained by UEFA's US legal action seeking document disclosure and potential Swiss criminal complaint.
The pressure mounts before November 18 — the deadline for candidates to challenge Infantino in next year's presidential election. Grafstrom maintains FFE required mandatory council and member association approval, meaning no penalty for withdrawal.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing