Fifa to Give Council Access to FFE Files — SkimNews
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- Fifa said council members will be able to view “key documents” on the abandoned plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, with in-person access at Zurich headquarters, registration within two weeks and strict confidentiality protocols; the file list is unclear.
- Uefa gave Fifa until 2 November to disclose details of the controversial FFE proposal and answer more than 100 questions, including on governance and decision-making, in an eight-page letter.
- Infantino apologized at last month’s council meeting for the abandoned sell-off scheme but gave no full explanation of how it was devised and asked that questions be submitted in writing.
- Grafstrom wrote hours before the deadline, called Uefa’s demand larger than anticipated and said a response was being prepared for all council members; he also said FFE required the council’s cumulative and mandatory approval plus a majority of member associations, with no penalty for withdrawing.
- Uefa launched legal action in October in the US seeking disclosure of evidence and documents and warned of a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland; sources said the process limits Fifa’s ability to answer some questions.
- Uefa said withdrawing FFE, acknowledging mistakes and announcing potential reforms did not answer how decisions were taken or why the Fifa Council was not involved at the appropriate stage; it hoped the pressure would build before the 18 November deadline for candidates to challenge Infantino.
- Uefa’s eight-page questions also covered national associations, the awarding of an inaugural Fifa Peace Prize to Trump and the controversial suspended World Cup ban given to USA striker Folarin Balogun, widening scrutiny beyond the stake-sale proposal.
Why it matters: Uefa said Fifa’s withdrawal, admission of mistakes and announcement of potential reforms did not explain how key decisions were made. With a 2 November deadline for more than 100 questions and access limited to registered council members at Zurich headquarters, document review forms part of the run-up to the 18 November presidential-candidacy cutoff Uefa said it hoped would pressure Infantino.
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