Infantino proposes independent review of FIFA after failed investment plan
Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent outside review of how FIFA takes its biggest decisions. The FIFA president put the idea in a letter to the FIFA Council and to the presidents of all 211 member associations, as reported on 21 September. The Guardian
The review would look at who does what when the stakes are high. That means the respective roles of the president, the bureau, a small group that can act between meetings, the council, the board-style body that sets direction, and the congress, the full gathering of all members that votes on the largest changes.
It would also examine how to improve transparency and accountability in decision-making. Alongside that, Infantino proposed consultations with the confederations, the regional bodies that run football in Europe, Asia and elsewhere, plus member associations and other stakeholders, on strengthening how FIFA decides.
The proposal follows a bruising summer. Infantino had backed a plan to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. That plan was dropped in July after opposition and boycott threats.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, then called for changes to FIFA's leadership. Earlier in September, the row deepened when FIFA accused UEFA of a smear campaign, while players' union arm FIFPRO Europe called for reform. Reuters
Infantino used the letter to defend the thinking behind the dropped plan. He said it explored selling a minority stake in a FIFA-controlled commercial company to raise money for football development. Control over sporting decisions would have stayed with FIFA.
He stressed the proposal was withdrawn and will not proceed. It had remained a proposal, he said, subject to approvals by the council and the member associations.
What happens next has a timetable. Suggestions sent in before the council meeting on 15 October could be discussed there. Any changes to FIFA's statutes, its rulebook, would then need approval by congress.
Infantino also gave two assurances. He said no member association's treatment by FIFA will depend on its position on any proposal or institutional matter. And he said he remains fully committed to leading FIFA.
For fans, this matters because trust is part of the tournament. The World Cup gives strangers something to share for a month. How it is run shapes how that month feels.
