Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of how world football's governing body operates, and says he is open to reform. In a letter to members of the Fifa Council and all national associations, Infantino said the process would "recommend potential improvements".

Before a Council meeting next month, Infantino also suggested a consultation on "how Fifa's decision-making can be further strengthened". This would include proposals on the role of the president, as well as "practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives".

Infantino has come under increasing pressure over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. That would have involved selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, and it sparked a major backlash. In a conciliatory gesture, Infantino writes: "Over recent weeks, I have taken time to listen before writing to you."

He insists the FFE plan "did not involve relinquishing Fifa's control or authority over sporting decisions. Obviously!" He adds that "democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale. They are not for sale and never will be".

Infantino remains "fully committed to leading Fifa and confident in what we can achieve together". The letter comes after Uefa and Concacaf demanded Fifa pays $10m to all 211 members from its cash reserves. FFE would have created a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company.

Infantino claims the collapse of FFE "does not diminish our ambition or our responsibility to invest more of Fifa's success back into football". He says: "We will continue to explore sustainable ways to grow Fifa's resources and expand development and solidarity support for every member association. What changes is not the ambition, but the strength of the process through which major ideas are developed, tested and decided."

Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, told Infantino to release all documents relating to his controversial plan. The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian Fifa leader will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate. Last month, Uefa began preparing criminal legal proceedings against Infantino at courts in the US over the FFE plan, demanding the release of all documents. Fifa hit back and accused Uefa of a "smear campaign against it and its leadership" in a challenge to the litigation.