Infantino proposes independent review of FIFA's governance after investor backlash
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of the organisation's governance framework, in a letter sent to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of the organisation’s governance framework for major strategic initiatives, in a letter sent on Monday 21 September to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations, seen by Reuters.
The letter makes two proposals. The first asks the Council whether it wishes to commission the independent review and recommend improvements. The second would establish a direct, structured, time-limited consultation with confederations, member associations and stakeholders on strengthening decision-making — the roles of president, Bureau, Council and Congress, plus transparency, participation and accountability.
“I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not,” Infantino wrote.
The proposal follows the abandoned plan to sell a 20% stake in FIFA’s commercial rights including the World Cup, dropped in July amid opposition and boycott threats. UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF called for leadership changes, Reuters reported. Infantino said the plan was aimed at raising money for football development, would not have given up sporting control, became public before its presentation to the Council, and is now withdrawn.
USA Today reported that days earlier the UEFA and CONCACAF presidents had written a letter advocating $10m per member association from FIFA’s cash reserves after the 2026 World Cup, with AFC president Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa writing separately. Aleksander Čeferin, Victor Montagliani and Al Khalifa are FIFA Council vice-presidents. The Council, with 37 members, next meets on 15 October in Zurich.
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