FA Demands Infantino Release FIFA World Cup Plan Documents

Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to release all documents relating to the governing body’s controversial plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup.

According to BBC Sport on Thursday, Hewitt, who is also a FIFA vice-president, made the demand in a letter sent to Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.

She also called for the FIFA Council to be given a written explanation for the decision to suspend the one-match ban handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup.

Hewitt wants the documents made available before the next FIFA Council meeting, scheduled for 15 October.

The letter raises concerns about governance and what the FA chair described as a breakdown in culture within FIFA.

Pressure over abandoned FIFA plan

Infantino has faced growing scrutiny over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

The plan would have involved the creation of a new company to manage the commercial and ticketing rights of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

Under the proposal, a 21% stake in the new company would have been sold to a private investment company.

The plan was eventually scrapped following widespread opposition from national football associations.

Hewitt has called for an independent review into how the FFE proposal was developed, who was involved, and how the private investment opportunity was put out to tender.

The controversy has also led to an increasingly public dispute between FIFA and UEFA.

UEFA has begun preparing legal proceedings in three US courts over the FFE proposal and has demanded the release of documents relating to the plan.

FIFA has rejected the criticism, accusing UEFA of conducting a “smear campaign” against Infantino and the organization’s leadership.

Infantino, 56, is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president in March. Potential challengers have until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.