UEFA has set a November 2 deadline for FIFA to publish documents related to President Gianni Infantino's secret efforts to launch a World Cup investment plan, along with a range of other governance issues. The latest move in the power struggle between the global and European football governing bodies was announced on Monday, just days after senior European football officials voiced frustration that Infantino had failed to clarify the issues at last week's FIFA Council meeting.
According to the information released, at the FIFA Council meeting Infantino provided no documents concerning the $4.2 billion World Cup stake sale plan he launched in July and then quickly withdrew amid a fierce backlash led by Europe.
Among the 42 questions UEFA is demanding answers to are: Infantino's personal compensation package, financial payments to singer Marc Anthony, the handling of the disciplinary case involving American forward Folarin Balogun, business and political ties involving US President Donald Trump and his family, and the independence of FIFA's judicial, electoral and ethics committees.
UEFA has also asked US federal courts to allow subpoenas for documents and sworn testimony regarding the scrapped investment plan known as FIFA Forward Enterprise. FIFA's lawyers accuse UEFA of harassing Infantino. Al Jazeera contacted FIFA for comment but had not received a response.
Deep discontent
The formal letter, signed by UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis on behalf of the European members of the FIFA Council, states that Infantino's apology for his actions and the subsequent explanation failed to address core concerns.
"These explanations do not begin to adequately address a number of fundamental questions raised by Council members. Other questions remain unanswered, and the information and documents requested have not been provided," the letter said.
According to the letter, "the withdrawal of FFE, the admission of error and the announcement of 'potential governance reforms' do not answer how the decisions in question were taken or why the FIFA Council was not involved at the appropriate stage."
The letter also set out the position: "Any refusal to disclose information or documents must be justified on an individual basis, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds invoked."
Tight deadline
UEFA has sent 42 detailed questions to FIFA and demanded answers before November 2 — 16 days before the nomination deadline for the presidential election expected on March 18, 2027.
With the next FIFA Council meeting scheduled for December 16 in Doha, Qatar — after the nomination deadline has closed — UEFA insists it cannot wait until then for answers.
"These questions need to be answered now. They cannot be deferred to the next FIFA Council meeting, and future governance reforms cannot substitute for oversight of the decisions that were taken and accountability for them," the letter stressed.
According to UEFA, the earlier deadline would give federations time to assess FIFA's answers, or FIFA's failure to respond, while they still have the ability to nominate or support a challenger candidate.
