Infantino proposes independent FIFA review after failed World Cup plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of how FIFA handles major strategic decisions.
He set out the idea in a letter to FIFA council members on 21 September, according to BBC. The letter was circulated to all FIFA member associations, the national associations that make up FIFA. It contains two reforms for discussion at a FIFA council meeting next month. The council is FIFA's main decision-making body between full congresses.
The first reform would commission outsiders to examine FIFA's current governance framework for big strategic initiatives. Governance here simply means the rules for who gets a say and who signs off big deals.
The second reform would launch direct, structured and time-limited talks with confederations, member associations and stakeholders. Confederations are the regional bodies such as UEFA in Europe. Those talks would focus on decision-making, transparency, participation and accountability.
The proposals follow the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. FIFA scrapped a plan to sell a stake in the World Cup after backlash across the football world, as reported by Al Jazeera. That plan is now dead.
UEFA, European football's governing body, alleged Infantino developed the proposal in secret with a small group of advisers and investors. It said he bypassed FIFA's normal governance checks. UEFA has since asked a United States court for FIFA documents for a planned Swiss case against Infantino, according to Reuters.
Players' unions have kept up the pressure. FIFPRO Europe called for FIFA reform after the failed proposal and said the governance shortcomings that allowed it to develop remain unresolved, according to Reuters. FIFPRO, the world players' union, has also joined calls for an independent review of FIFA's governance.
Nordic nations said in August they have lost confidence in Infantino and FIFA governance. Human rights organisation FairSquare separately urged FIFA to rule Infantino ineligible to stand for another term, citing term limits.
For fans, this means the argument is about more than boardroom rules. The World Cup belongs to no single office. How it is funded, scheduled and sold shapes ticket prices, TV times and the calendar players live with.
The two proposals will go before the FIFA council next month. No decision has been announced yet. Confederations, member associations and stakeholders are expected to give their responses there.
