Uefa demands Fifa releases documents relating to World Cup sell-off scheme

Uefa has given Fifa a two-week deadline to release key documents relating to Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan and other governance issues in its latest devastating critique of the world governing body.

A letter sent to Fifa’s general secretary, Mattias Grafström, by his counterpart at Uefa, Theodore Theodoridis, is accompanied by an eight-page document that includes more than 50 questions about Fifa’s handling of dozens of controversial issues over the past 12 months. These include the proposed sale of 20% of its commercial rights, the Folarin Balogun affair, the peace prize and relations with Donald Trump and the arrangements for next year’s Fifa presidential election. Uefa’s document also makes a number of allegations about potential conflicts of interests at Fifa, as well as repeating calls for a “genuinely independent” governance review.

Uefa’s latest intervention follows last week’s meeting of the Fifa council in Zurich, the first time it had gathered since the emergence of the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) controversy in July. Infantino listened to questions on FFE and other matters but declined to provide substantive answers, instead asking council members to submit them in writing before their next meeting in Doha on 16 December.

In a letter sent on Monday, Theodoridis rejected this approach as unsatisfactory and demanded answers, as well as the release of documents, by 2 November.

“These explanations have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions raised by Council members,” Theodoridis writes. “Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided.

“Following the invitation made during the meeting to submit our questions in writing, we therefore enclose a consolidated set of questions and requests for information.

“We formally request a substantive written response to each question, together with all supporting documentation by Monday 2nd November. Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon.

“These questions require answers now. 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.”

The accompanying document and list of supplementary questions constitutes a damning takedown of Fifa’s leadership under Infantino, who as it stands is on course to be re-elected unopposed as president next year, although Uefa is increasingly hopeful of identifying a candidate to take him on before nominations close on 18 November.

In addition to demanding more detail on FFE, Balogun and Trump, Uefa also wants answers on the processes behind other major decisions taken by Fifa over the past 12 months including moving the men’s World Cup draw to Washington DC from Las Vegas, the introduction of hydration breaks and the 27-minute half-time at the World Cup final.

“A series of decisions, transactions and interventions involving the Fifa President, the President of the United States and individuals associated with him raise serious questions concerning potential conflicts of interest, transparency and institutional accountability,” Uefa states.

The amount Fifa is paying to rent office space in Trump Tower is also queried, as is a report in the Times last week that Infantino in 2024 “received substantial additional remuneration which was not disclosed in Fifa’s annual report”. Fifa has said it “does not pay a second salary to the Fifa president and complies with all reporting requirements in relation to compensation”.

Uefa also raises concerns about March’s presidential election, specifically regarding the involvement of Bruno Chiomento, the chair of Fifa’s electoral committee. “We understand that Mr Chiomento has known the Fifa President for approximately 20 years and is regularly invited to Fifa events and competitions at Fifa’s expense,” Uefa’s document states. “We further understand that he attended the entire 2026 World Cup as an accredited individual, with his expenses covered by Fifa for more than five weeks.”

Uefa has also requested a complete list of Fifa guests in VIP and VVIP areas at the World Cup final, on the grounds that “numerous guests were apparently given priority over Presidents of Member Associations and Secretaries General of Confederations”. Fifa has been contacted for comment.