FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, suggested on Monday that an external review be conducted to evaluate how the organization makes significant decisions, recognizing in a letter to members that its management of a now-shelved investment strategy had raised concerns.
In his communication to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations, which was reviewed by Reuters, Infantino stated, “First, I will ask the Council if it wishes to initiate an independent external assessment of FIFA’s current governance framework concerning major strategic initiatives and suggest possible enhancements.”
He also mentioned that he would recommend engaging with confederations, member associations, and other relevant parties to bolster FIFA’s decision-making processes.
The proposed review aims to clarify who holds influence over significant initiatives, focusing on the roles of the president, Bureau, Council, and Congress, as well as how to enhance transparency and accountability.
Infantino encountered substantial criticism regarding his plan to sell a 20 percent share of FIFA’s commercial rights, which included World Cup revenues, to private investors. This proposal was retracted in July in response to opposition and threats of boycotts, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF subsequently urging reforms within FIFA’s leadership.
The president explained that the halted initiative considered whether selling a minority interest in a FIFA-operated commercial entity could generate additional funds for football development. He emphasized that it would not have entailed relinquishing control over sporting decisions.
However, Infantino indicated that the proposal became public before it could be fully presented to the Council and member associations.
“I acknowledge that, lacking the complete context, this led to concerns and created the impression that decisions had already been finalized. That was not the case,” he stated.
Divergent Perspectives on Decision-Making for Strategic Issues
He clarified, “It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always contingent upon the necessary approvals from the Council and the Member Associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not move forward.”
Infantino noted that he has received varying opinions regarding who should make decisions on major strategic issues. Some advocated for requiring unanimous consent within the Bureau, while others preferred that such matters be directly addressed by Congress and the member associations.
“My role is not to pre-empt that discussion. Those who support a specific model should have the chance to present their arguments clearly,” he remarked.
Suggestions submitted by the time of the October 15 Council meeting could be discussed during the meeting, with later submissions also to be taken into account within a timeframe that has yet to be determined. Any amendments to FIFA’s statutes would necessitate approval from Congress.
Infantino additionally assured that the positions of member associations on proposals or governance issues would not influence their treatment by FIFA, affirming that development and solidarity programs would continue under the current regulations.
“No association’s treatment will be dependent on its stance regarding any proposal or institutional issue,” he wrote.
“I remain fully dedicated to leading FIFA and am confident in what we can accomplish together.”