UEFA Sets November 2 Deadline for FIFA to Release World Cup Sell-Off Documents

UEFA has given FIFA until Monday, November 2 to release key documents and provide substantive written answers about Gianni Infantino's abandoned World Cup commercial rights sell-off plan and a range of other governance issues, according to a letter sent by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafström.

The letter, sent on Monday, was accompanied by an eight-page document containing more than 50 questions about FIFA's handling of dozens of controversial issues over the past 12 months, according to the Guardian. These include the proposed sale of 20% of FIFA's commercial rights, the Folarin Balogun affair, the FIFA Peace Prize, relations with Donald Trump and the arrangements for next year's FIFA presidential election. UEFA's document also makes allegations about potential conflicts of interest at FIFA and repeats calls for a "genuinely independent" governance review.

In the letter, Theodoridis wrote that explanations offered by FIFA had not satisfactorily addressed fundamental questions raised by Council members. "These explanations have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions raised by Council members," he wrote. "Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided."

He added: "We formally request a substantive written response to each question, together with all supporting documentation by Monday 2nd November. Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon."

Theodoridis also insisted that the questions could not wait for FIFA's next Council meeting, scheduled for December 16 in Doha. "These questions require answers now. 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 letter stated.

The intervention follows a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last week, the first since the emergence of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) controversy in July. According to the Guardian, Infantino listened to questions on FFE and other matters but declined to provide substantive answers, instead asking council members to submit them in writing before the Doha meeting. The Hindu reported that Infantino provided no documents about the $4.2 billion World Cup sell-off plan he launched and quickly dropped in July amid a fierce backlash led by Europe.

UEFA's document raises concerns about a series of decisions and interventions involving the FIFA president, the President of the United States and individuals associated with him, stating that they "raise serious questions concerning potential conflicts of interest, transparency and institutional accountability." The amount FIFA is paying to rent office space in Trump Tower is also queried, as is a report in the Times last week that Infantino in 2024 "received substantial additional remuneration which was not disclosed in Fifa's annual report." FIFA has said it "does not pay a second salary to the Fifa president and complies with all reporting requirements in relation to compensation."

UEFA also raises concerns about March's presidential election, specifically regarding the involvement of Bruno Chiomento, the chair of FIFA's electoral committee. "We understand that Mr Chiomento has known the Fifa President for approximately 20 years and is regularly invited to Fifa events and competitions at Fifa's expense," UEFA's document states. "We further understand that he attended the entire 2026 World Cup as an accredited individual, with his expenses covered by Fifa for more than five weeks." UEFA has also requested a complete list of FIFA guests in VIP and VVIP areas at the World Cup final, on the grounds that "numerous guests were apparently given priority over Presidents of Member Associations and Secretaries General of Confederations."

The Hindu reported that among the 42 questions UEFA is demanding answers to are Infantino's personal remuneration package, financial payments made to singer Marc Anthony, the handling of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's disciplinary case, business and political relationships involving Donald Trump and his family, and the operational independence of FIFA's judicial, electoral and ethics committees. UEFA asked U.S. federal courts to authorise subpoenas compelling the production of documents and sworn testimony about the abandoned investment plan, and FIFA lawyers have claimed UEFA is harassing Infantino, according to The Hindu.

UEFA also wants answers on the processes behind other major decisions taken by FIFA over the past 12 months, including moving the men's World Cup draw to Washington DC from Las Vegas, the introduction of hydration breaks and the 27-minute half-time at the World Cup final, according to the Guardian.

The November 2 deadline falls 16 days before the nomination deadline of November 18 for the presidential election next March 18, according to The Hindu, which reported that the earlier deadline would give federations time to assess FIFA's answers — or its failure to answer — while they can still nominate or endorse a challenger. The Guardian reported that Infantino, as it stands, is on course to be re-elected unopposed as president next year, although UEFA is increasingly hopeful of identifying a candidate to take him on before nominations close.

FIFA has been contacted for comment, according to the Guardian.