UEFA gives Infantino two-week deadline to release key documents

European football’s governing body, UEFA, has given FIFA until November 2 to release key documents and respond to questions concerning its governance and decision-making processes.

The demand follows a FIFA Council meeting on Thursday, during which president Gianni Infantino apologised over his proposal to secure private investment for football development but did not provide a comprehensive explanation of how the plan was developed.

In a letter obtained by BBC Sport, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said FIFA had failed to address several fundamental concerns, adding that requested information and documents remained outstanding.

The eight-page letter contains 42 questions covering a range of issues, including the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment proposal, the FIFA Peace Prize and the controversial decision to lift the immediate suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.

UEFA argued that withdrawing the FFE proposal, acknowledging mistakes and promising possible governance reforms did not explain how the decisions were made or why the FIFA Council was not consulted at the appropriate stage.

The organisation insisted that FIFA must provide answers immediately, stressing that the questions should not be postponed until the next council meeting and that future reforms could not replace scrutiny of past decisions.

Although UEFA has not specified the consequences FIFA could face for missing the deadline, the move is expected to increase pressure on Infantino ahead of November 18, the deadline for candidates to declare their intention to challenge him in next year’s presidential election.

The questions were initially raised at the previous FIFA Council meeting, where Infantino requested that they be submitted in writing.

Football Association chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt subsequently warned that Infantino would be unfit to lead the organisation if he failed to answer them.

FIFA has been contacted for comment.

UEFA questions FIFA’s private investment proposal

A significant portion of UEFA’s letter focuses on the FFE initiative, seeking clarification on when the project was conceived, who authorised its development and what measures FIFA would introduce to prevent similar governance concerns in the future.

UEFA also questioned the circumstances surrounding Infantino’s initial presentation of the proposal to senior FIFA officials.

The letter raised concerns about reports that Infantino had informed members of FIFA’s management board, two days before a vote on the proposal, that United States authorities were investigating the organisation’s administration.

UEFA asked Infantino to confirm whether he made the statement, explain the information behind it and clarify why it was raised immediately before the vote.

The organisation also sought details about whether Infantino expected to hold any position or role within FFE during or after his presidency.

Another area of concern involved Thrive Capital, the investment firm led by Joshua Kushner. UEFA questioned why the company was selected as the lead investor without a competitive bidding process and why an exclusivity agreement was signed without prior consultation with the FIFA Council.

It also highlighted Kushner’s family connection to US President Donald Trump, who received FIFA’s Peace Prize, and requested an explanation of how the award was established, who selected the recipient and the reasons behind the decision.

Funding for member associations under scrutiny

UEFA also questioned why FIFA sought private investment to finance football development when the organisation had substantial financial reserves of its own.

Following the announcement of the FFE proposal after the World Cup final, Infantino reportedly told FIFA’s 211 member associations that each could receive $40 million if the plan received their support. Associations were subsequently given a September 19 deadline to accept the proposal to qualify for an initial $20 million.

After the scheme was abandoned, UEFA and Concacaf called on FIFA to distribute at least $10 million from its reserves to each member association.

Infantino later agreed to increase funding for global football development by $3.4 billion, proposing that each association receive $25 million between 2027 and 2030.

UEFA questioned why the increased funding had initially been linked to external investment rather than financed directly through FIFA’s own resources.

The organisation also asked what financial or strategic benefits private investment would have offered compared with using FIFA’s available funds.

FIFA has yet to respond publicly to the latest questions. However, sources have suggested that legal proceedings initiated by UEFA in the United States could limit the information FIFA is able to disclose.

Last month, UEFA filed legal documents seeking access to evidence and records from FIFA and warned that it could pursue a criminal complaint in Switzerland.

UEFA seeks clarification over Balogun’s suspension

UEFA has also demanded answers concerning FIFA’s decision to lift the immediate suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun after he was sent off during the World Cup.

The decision followed a request by Trump to Infantino to have the disciplinary ruling reviewed.

Although FIFA maintained that its disciplinary committee operates independently, its legal committee is reviewing proposed changes to the disciplinary code to prevent similar situations in the future, with an update expected in December.

UEFA questioned why the changes were necessary and asked what Trump requested during his conversation with Infantino, how the FIFA president responded and whether the case would have been reviewed without the intervention.

It also requested copies of correspondence between FIFA officials and the disciplinary committee, the full written reasons for the decision, and an explanation of why the case was handled by a single committee member.

Additionally, UEFA questioned why FIFA did not take disciplinary action against the Democratic Republic of Congo over reports that the country fielded an ineligible player during World Cup qualifying.

Infantino’s additional remuneration questioned

The letter also addresses reports that Infantino received additional remuneration from FIFA’s United States World Cup organising entity, FWC2026 US Inc., which was allegedly not disclosed in FIFA’s annual report.

UEFA requested clarification on the nature and amount of the payments, the reasons they were not disclosed, and whether the appropriate FIFA bodies reviewed and approved them.

It also asked whether the remuneration was treated as taxable income and whether the relevant taxes were paid.

FIFA has previously denied paying Infantino a second salary, maintaining that it complies with all financial reporting requirements and rejecting allegations that it withheld financial information or breached its statutes.

Other arrangements involving Trump and the United States

UEFA raised further questions about reported discussions involving Trump and individuals associated with him concerning a FIFA cryptocurrency, as well as a reported $75 million investment in Palestine through Trump’s Board of Peace.

Other matters included the extended 27-minute half-time interval during the World Cup final, the introduction of mandatory hydration breaks and a reported seven-year office lease worth $4 million at Trump Tower in New York involving Eric Trump. The premises were reportedly unused for much of the year.

UEFA said the issues raised broader concerns about FIFA’s relationship with the government of a country hosting the World Cup.

It requested detailed explanations of the arrangements, the decision-making processes involved, how potential conflicts of interest were identified and managed, and whether the relevant FIFA bodies were adequately informed or consulted.

The organisation also questioned the impartiality of the chair of FIFA’s electoral committee ahead of next year’s presidential election, noting that he attended the entire 2026 World Cup as an accredited guest whose expenses were covered by FIFA for more than five weeks.

Finally, UEFA requested a comprehensive list of guests seated in the VIP and VVIP sections during the tournament, including their names, positions and the reasons for their invitations.