Infantino proposes external FIFA governance review — SkimNews
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- Gianni Infantino sent a letter to the FIFA Council and all 211 national associations proposing an independent external review of FIFA's operations and a consultation on strengthening decision-making, covering the role of the president plus transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives.
- Infantino's reform pitch comes ahead of the October 15 FIFA Council meeting and follows backlash over the aborted Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which would have created a new company to manage World Cup commercial and ticketing rights with 21% sold to a private investment firm.
- UEFA and CONCACAF have demanded FIFA distribute $10 million from its cash reserves to each of its 211 member associations, while UEFA has begun preparing criminal legal proceedings in U.S. courts over FFE — prompting FIFA to accuse the confederation of a "smear campaign."
- FA chair Debbie Hewitt, a FIFA vice-president, told Infantino to release all documents relating to FFE and called for an independent review of the proposal — a separate review Infantino has not yet agreed to.
- Infantino will stand for a fourth term in March 2027, with potential opponents facing a November 18 declaration deadline; critics want term limits, separation between the president and FIFA's administration, and greater emphasis on human rights and sustainability.
Why it matters: The October 15 FIFA Council meeting is the immediate pressure point — Infantino needs enough reform concessions to neutralize a challenger for his March 2027 re-election, but by refusing an independent review of FFE itself, he leaves the specific demands from Hewitt and UEFA unmet and the crisis unresolved.
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