FIFA President Gianni Infantino has signaled a willingness to subject the governing body’s decision-making framework to an independent review and consider reforms following mounting scrutiny over the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project.
In a letter sent Monday to members of the FIFA Council and the organization’s 211 member associations, Infantino proposed an independent assessment of FIFA’s governance system ahead of the council’s next meeting Oct. 15.
"I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an external, independent assessment of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and to recommend potential improvements,” Infantino wrote in the letter, which was seen by The Associated Press (AP).
He also proposed that the FIFA Council launch a formal consultation with the confederations and member associations aimed at strengthening the organization’s decision-making processes.
"I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured, and time-bound consultation with the confederations and member associations on how to further strengthen FIFA’s decision-making processes,” Infantino added.
The proposal comes after the failure of the FFE project, under which private investors would have been given the opportunity to purchase shares in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.
The initiative drew criticism over questions surrounding its governance, decision-making process and the proposed role of private investment in FIFA’s major competitions. The project was ultimately abandoned, prompting renewed calls for greater transparency and scrutiny of the organization’s strategic decisions.
However, the project became public sooner than Infantino had anticipated, sparking sharp criticism and creating a rift among member associations. Some prominent members, including several from European football governing body UEFA, withdrew their support for Infantino.
"The proposal entered the public domain before FIFA’s planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the member associations. I recognize that, without full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not,” Infantino said in the letter.
The fallout has escalated beyond internal disagreement. Last month, UEFA began seeking documents in U.S. courts as part of a legal process related to a criminal complaint it says it is preparing against Infantino in Switzerland over the FFE plan. UEFA has alleged possible criminal mismanagement and requested the release of documents related to the proposal.
Despite the controversy, Infantino continues to champion the goal of generating more revenue for world football’s governing body.
"Withdrawing this proposal does not diminish our ambition or our responsibility to reinvest a greater share of the fruits of FIFA’s success into football. We will continue to explore sustainable ways to increase FIFA’s resources,” Infantino added. "What changes is not the ambition, but the strength of the process.”
The governance dispute comes at a politically significant time for FIFA’s leadership. Infantino, 56, is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president in March 2027, while prospective challengers have until Nov. 18 to submit their candidacies.