Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has formally requested that Fifa president Gianni Infantino disclose all internal documentation concerning the controversial proposal to sell off a stake in the World Cup. In a letter addressed to Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, Hewitt, who serves as a Fifa vice-president, demanded full transparency before the next meeting of the Fifa Council, scheduled for 15 October.
At the center of the dispute is the aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan. This initiative would have involved establishing a new entity to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all major competitions, with 21% of the stake sold to a private investment firm. Following widespread backlash from various national football associations, the proposal was ultimately scrapped. Hewitt is now insisting on an independent review to determine the origins of the project and the nature of the tender process for private investment.
Tensions have escalated following Uefa’s decision last month to initiate criminal legal proceedings against Infantino across three United States courts. In response to the litigation, Fifa characterized the move as a smear campaign targeting its leadership. Despite these accusations, pressure continues to mount on Infantino, who has led the organization since his initial election in 2016 and is currently preparing to stand for a fourth term in March. Opponents have until 18 November to nominate an alternative candidate.
Concerns within the FA extend beyond the FFE proposal to the handling of a suspension involving United States forward Folarin Balogun. The 25-year-old was permitted to play in the World Cup round of 16 against Belgium, despite having been issued a straight red card for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic during the previous match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. FIFA unilaterally suspended the automatic one-match ban for a year without providing a detailed explanation, citing only standard regulatory powers.
The FA has expressed deep reservations regarding potential political interference in this incident, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he had requested that Infantino review the player’s ban. This development, coupled with the revelation of the FFE proposal shortly after the World Cup final, has caused a significant rift within the sport’s governing body.
Last month, an open letter signed by Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation accused Infantino of violating trust through deception. While some national associations, including those from England, Scotland, and Wales, have withdrawn their previous support for his re-election, Infantino retains substantial backing from the African, South American, and Oceanian confederations.
Although Infantino convened a board meeting in Rabat, Morocco, following the cancellation of the FFE project, there has been no formal engagement with the Fifa Council to address the controversy. That situation is expected to change in October, when Infantino must face Hewitt and the other 35 members of the Council to provide a formal account of these events. The report also notes that infantino, 56, will stand for election for a fourth time in March, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate. The report also notes that balogun incident placed doubts in FA’s mind. The report also notes that the striker had been shown a straight red card for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32. The report also notes that beyond citing a rule which allows punishments to be suspended, no reasoning behind the move was provided.
