UEFA has called on FIFA to disclose key documents and answer questions within two weeks regarding President Gianni Infantino's proposed and later abandoned plan to sell a stake in World Cup-related commercial rights, as well as FIFA's governance.
The BBC and ESPN reported Sunday that UEFA sent FIFA an eight-page letter containing 42 questions and requested answers by Nov. 2.
The letter, sent by UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, includes questions about Infantino's failed plan to sell part of FIFA's World Cup business, the process by which a red card shown to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup was overturned, and the decision to create a "FIFA Peace Prize" and award it to U.S. President Donald Trump.
In July, Infantino announced plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), a company that would handle the commercial rights to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, and sell part of the company to private investors.
Foreign media reported that FFE was valued at $4.2 billion and that investors led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, were set to acquire a stake of more than 20 percent.
Infantino later withdrew the plan after strong opposition, particularly from European soccer officials.
Infantino apologized for the proposed World Cup commercial-rights deal at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on Oct. 15. However, he reportedly did not fully explain how the plan had been developed.
Representatives of UEFA member associations expressed disappointment and ultimately increased pressure on FIFA by demanding the release of documents and answers to their questions.
"The withdrawal of the FFE proposal, acknowledgment of mistakes and announcement of 'potential governance reforms' do not answer how the relevant decisions were made, or why the FIFA Council was not involved in the decision-making process at the appropriate stage," UEFA said in the letter.
UEFA did not specify what action it would take if FIFA failed to meet the deadline.
The BBC reported, however, that UEFA hopes the move will increase pressure on Infantino ahead of a Nov. 18 deadline to finalize a candidate to challenge him in next year's FIFA presidential election.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)
