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The chair of the English Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to release documents linked to a proposed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.
The proposal was abandoned after widespread opposition from football stakeholders, with Europe’s governing body, UEFA, warning it could boycott FIFA competitions if the plan moved forward.
Hewitt, also a FIFA vice-president and member of the FIFA Council, has written to Infantino requesting full disclosure of documents related to the proposal before the council’s next meeting on October 15.
She has also asked FIFA to release records connected to the suspension of a ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. The decision followed a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Infantino, according to reports.
FIFA apologised in August over how it handled the private investor proposal and said its management board would conduct a review. However, the organisation has not disclosed who is leading the investigation or provided details of its scope.
UEFA has criticised the process, saying it has “lost confidence” in Infantino’s leadership. The European body has also filed legal applications in the United States seeking access to documents related to the investment plan.
The dispute comes as Infantino prepares for a possible re-election campaign. UEFA has committed to finding a candidate to challenge him at the FIFA Congress in March, with nominations closing on November 18.
Infantino confirmed earlier this month that he intends to seek another term as FIFA president. The governing body has not publicly announced further details about the abandoned investment proposal or the review into the decision-making process.
