UEFA Gives FIFA November 2 Deadline to Answer 42 Questions on Infantino’s Presidency
UEFA has sent FIFA a formal letter demanding answers about Gianni Infantino’s presidency by November 2, escalating the UEFA FIFA Infantino row over the abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.
The eight-page letter, sent on Monday by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom, contains 42 questions covering 12 topics, Al Jazeera reported.
“These questions require answers now,” Theodoridis wrote. “They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the FIFA Council, nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them.”
The move follows a FIFA Council meeting last week at which Infantino, 56, apologised for the FFE plan but provided no documents explaining how it was developed. He told council members to submit any questions in writing so he could answer them at the next meeting on December 16 in Doha, Qatar.
UEFA FIFA Infantino: what the 42 questions cover
According to Al Jazeera and other outlets that have seen the letter, UEFA’s questions go far beyond the sell-off plan. They include Infantino’s personal remuneration package, financial payments made to singer Marc Anthony, the handling of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s disciplinary case, and business and political relationships involving US President Donald Trump and his family.
UEFA also questioned the operational independence of FIFA’s judicial, electoral and ethics committees. The letter demands “a substantive written response to each question, together with all supporting documentation”, and says any refusal to disclose information must be justified individually.
The European body has separately asked US federal courts to authorise subpoenas compelling the production of documents and sworn testimony about the abandoned investment plan. FIFA lawyers have claimed UEFA is harassing Infantino.
A FIFA spokesperson said council meetings and their documentation were confidential under FIFA’s governance regulations. “While FIFA intends to reply to questions submitted by its council members, it has no intention of breaching confidentiality by commenting on internal communication to media,” the spokesperson said.
The World Cup sell-off plan
The dispute centres on the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which Infantino launched and quickly dropped in July after a fierce backlash led by Europe. The plan involved creating a company to run the commercial interests of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, and selling a minority stake to private investors.
Al Jazeera reported the plan was valued at $4.2 billion. UEFA has led calls for Infantino to resign since the proposal surfaced, as our earlier report on the Zurich council showdown covered.
European delegates left last week’s council meeting feeling their questions remained unanswered. The Times reported that FA chair Debbie Hewitt was among those dissatisfied with Infantino’s apology, which England and Germany also rejected.
Why the November 2 deadline matters
The timing is deliberate. Infantino stands for re-election in March 2027, and November 18 is the deadline for candidates to declare they will challenge him. UEFA’s November 2 date would force FIFA to respond, or refuse to respond, while federations can still nominate or endorse a challenger.
The next FIFA Council meeting is not until December 16, four weeks after the nominations close. UEFA’s letter argues that waiting until then would let Infantino avoid scrutiny until after the election field is set.
UEFA did not say what action it might take if FIFA misses the deadline. But the letter raises the pressure on Infantino, who is seeking a third term despite mounting criticism, at a moment when European football’s patience appears exhausted.
What is the FIFA Forward Enterprise project?
FIFA Forward Enterprise was a plan, launched and dropped by Gianni Infantino in July 2026, to create a company running the commercial interests of FIFA competitions including the World Cup, with a minority stake sold to private investors. UEFA led the backlash that killed the plan.
Why is UEFA demanding answers from FIFA?
UEFA says Infantino’s apology at last week’s FIFA Council meeting failed to explain how the sell-off plan was developed or why the council was not involved. Its 42 questions also cover his pay, the FIFA Peace Prize, a disciplinary case and FIFA’s governance.
When is the FIFA presidential election?
Infantino stands for re-election in March 2027. Candidates must declare by November 18, 2026, which is why UEFA set its November 2 deadline for answers.
