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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to the organisation’s 211 member associations proposing an external review of how FIFA makes major decisions.
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The letter acknowledges that FIFA’s handling of a previous investment plan had caused concern among members, according to Sky Sports News.
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The plan sought to sell a 20% stake in FIFA’s commercial rights for up to $4.2 billion before it was withdrawn in August following backlash from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC.
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UEFA has said it “lost confidence” in Infantino’s leadership and has pursued legal document disclosure in US courts.
September 22, (THEWILL) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to the organisation’s 211 member associations proposing an external review of the body’s decision-making processes, according to a report by Sky Sports News.
The letter reportedly acknowledges that FIFA’s handling of a previous investment proposal had caused concern among its members.
The proposal in question, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was unveiled in July and sought to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling a 20% stake in a new commercial unit that would run FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, valuing the business at roughly $20 billion.
The plan was backed by Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner.
Infantino had given member federations a September 19 deadline to approve it, offering $40 million in funding per association if they backed the deal, against a combined $2.7 billion in FIFA development funding if they rejected it.
The plan triggered immediate opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF.
The AFC said the proposal had “exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.”
FIFA’s own chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, told staff the scheme had been “the project of just one man,” and Infantino withdrew the proposal in early August.
The withdrawal did not end the fallout. UEFA sent FIFA a legal preservation letter demanding it retain all documents related to the plan, and confirmed it was pursuing disclosure through the US court system.
UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC subsequently issued a joint open letter accusing FIFA’s leadership of threatening the integrity of the game and calling for an independent review of how the FFE proposal was handled.
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Infantino apologised to FIFA’s membership on August 5 over the handling of the plan, and FIFA’s management board pledged a review, though it did not immediately name who would conduct it.
By mid-September, Denmark’s football federation president Jesper Moller was still publicly pressing FIFA for answers, saying the organisation had declined to address “critical questions” at a Legal Committee meeting. FIFA subsequently confirmed a review of the withdrawn plan would be presented to its Council.
Infantino’s letter proposing an external review arrives as FIFA’s presidential election approaches on March 18, 2027, in Rabat. Infantino, who has held the FIFA presidency since 2016, is seeking a fourth term.
He had been expected to run unopposed following the success of the 2026 World Cup, but UEFA has since committed to identifying a challenger, setting November 18 as the deadline for candidates to be submitted.
Sources familiar with internal FIFA discussions told Reuters that Infantino retains sufficient support across Africa, South America and parts of the Middle East to likely secure re-election.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
