FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to the organisation's 211 member associations proposing an external review of its decision-making processes. This move comes after a previous investment plan was withdrawn in August due to backlash from several football associations. The plan sought to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights for up to $4.2 billion. Infantino's letter acknowledges that FIFA's handling of the plan had caused concern among members.
The investment proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was unveiled in July and valued FIFA's commercial unit at roughly $20 billion. The plan was backed by Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner. Infantino had given member federations a September 19 deadline to approve it, offering $40 million in funding per association if they backed the deal. However, the plan triggered immediate opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF.
The opposition to the plan led to FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, telling staff that the scheme had been "the project of just one man." Infantino subsequently withdrew the proposal in early August. However, the withdrawal did not end the fallout, with UEFA sending FIFA a legal preservation letter demanding it retain all documents related to the plan. UEFA confirmed it was pursuing disclosure through the US court system.
UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC issued a joint open letter accusing FIFA's leadership of threatening the integrity of the game and calling for an independent review of how the FFE proposal was handled. Infantino apologised to FIFA's membership on August 5 over the handling of the plan, and FIFA's management board pledged a review. However, by mid-September, Denmark's football federation president Jesper Moller was still publicly pressing FIFA for answers.
Infantino's letter proposing an external review arrives as FIFA's presidential election approaches on March 18, 2027. Infantino, who has held the FIFA presidency since 2016, is seeking a fourth term. He had been expected to run unopposed following the success of the 2026 World Cup, but UEFA has since committed to identifying a challenger. Sources familiar with internal FIFA discussions told Reuters that Infantino retains sufficient support across Africa, South America, and parts of the Middle East to likely secure re-election.
The external review proposed by Infantino is expected to examine FIFA's decision-making processes and how they were handled in the case of the FFE proposal. This move is seen as an attempt to address concerns among FIFA's member associations and restore trust in the organisation's leadership. The review is also expected to look into the role of Infantino and other key officials in the handling of the investment plan.
The collapse of the investment plan and the subsequent fallout have raised questions about Infantino's leadership and the governance of FIFA. The organisation's handling of the plan has been widely criticised, and Infantino's proposal for an external review is seen as a step towards addressing these concerns. The outcome of the review and its impact on Infantino's re-election bid remain to be seen.
Key points
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposes external review of decision-making processes after failed investment plan.
