UEFA has given FIFA president Gianni Infantino a two-week deadline — until November 2 — to release key documents and answer fundamental questions about the world governing body’s decision-making, escalating a standoff that has already rocked football’s corridors of power.
Gianni Infantino (Credits: BBC Sport)
In a letter seen by BBC Sport, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis told FIFA that it had failed to address “a number of fundamental questions.” The letter carried eight pages of questions covering issues from the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment to the FIFA Peace Prize and the controversial suspended ban handed to USA striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
An Apology That Wasn’t Enough
At Thursday’s FIFA Council, Infantino apologised for his World Cup sell-off plan — but offered no full explanation of how the proposal was devised. UEFA says the apology changed nothing substantive.
“The withdrawal of FFE, the acknowledgement of mistakes and the announcement of ‘potential governance reforms’ do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the FIFA Council was not involved at the appropriate stage,” the letter read. Any refusal to disclose information, UEFA insisted, must be justified individually with a clear explanation of the specific grounds.
“These questions require answers now,” UEFA warned. “They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the FIFA Council — nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them.” UEFA did not say what steps it would take if FIFA misses the deadline.
“Not Fit to Be FIFA President”
The questions were first put to Infantino at last week’s FIFA Council. Afterwards, FA chair Debbie Hewitt — a FIFA vice-president — delivered the starkest verdict: “If he doesn’t answer those questions, he’s not fit to be FIFA president.”
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is standing for re-election for a third time. With UEFA now formally demanding full disclosure by November 2, the coming fortnight could define the remainder of his presidency.
Also Read: Gianni Infantino Apologises to FIFA Council Over World Cup Sell-Off Plan but Told He’s ‘Not Fit to Lead’ | Could Arsene Wenger Really Take on Gianni Infantino in a FIFA Presidency Battle?
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
