Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of the governance of world football’s governing body and says he is open to reform, in a move that comes amid growing pressure over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
In a letter sent to Fifa council members and circulated to all of the organisation’s member associations, the Fifa president tabled two reforms to be put to a meeting of the council next month. The first would ask the council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of Fifa’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives, with a remit to recommend potential improvements.
The second would establish a “direct, structured and time-limited” consultation with confederations, member associations and relevant stakeholders on how Fifa’s decision-making can be further strengthened. According to the letter, that consultation would invite specific proposals on earlier institutional involvement and on the respective roles of the president, the bureau, the council and the congress, as well as practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives.
Infantino has faced escalating criticism over FFE, a plan that would have created a new company to manage the commercial and ticketing rights of all competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company. Uefa and Concacaf, the confederations for Europe and for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, have demanded that Fifa pay $10m to all 211 member associations from its cash reserves.
Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, told Infantino to release all documents relating to the controversial plan. Last month, European football’s governing body Uefa began preparing criminal legal proceedings against Infantino at courts in the US over FFE, demanding the release of all documents. Fifa hit back, accusing Uefa of a “smear campaign against it and its leadership” in a challenge to the litigation.
The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.