INFANTINO OPENS DOOR TO FIFA REFORMS AFTER FFE BACKLASH.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has opened the door to reforms after proposing an independent review of the governing body’s operations following the backlash over his abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
In a letter to Fifa Council members and all 211 member associations, Infantino said the review would identify potential improvements to Fifa’s governance and decision-making.
He also proposed consultations on the role of the president and ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability.
Infantino said the FFE proposal, which involved selling a 21% stake in a new company managing Fifa’s commercial and ticketing rights to private investors, caused concern because it entered the public domain before the full process had been completed.
“I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not,” he wrote.
Infantino also insisted Fifa’s independence was never at risk.
“Democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale. They are not for sale and never will be,” he said.
The move comes after UEFA and Concacaf called on FIFA to distribute $10m to each of its 211 members from its reserves, while Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has called for an independent review of the FFE plan.
Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president in March 2027, said he remains “fully committed to leading FIFA” and improving the organisation’s governance.
