Infantino opens door to external FIFA reform amid governance crisis

Gianni Infantino has shifted his stance in the middle of a storm. The FIFA president is proposing an external audit of how world football's governing body operates and says he is open to changing its governance, a move designed to defuse an internal rebellion triggered by his controversial plan to hand part of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors. The offer was sent by letter to Council members and all 211 national associations, weeks before the key meeting on 15 October.

• Infantino proposes an independent review to recommend potential improvements at FIFA.
• He opens a consultation on the role of the president and transparency in strategic decisions.
• He admits the FFE plan caused alarm by becoming public before the institutional process was complete.
• He insists FIFA's sporting control and independence were never for sale.
• UEFA and Concacaf are demanding $10 million for each of the 211 member associations.

What Infantino is proposing to reform FIFA

In the letter sent to the Council and all national associations, the Swiss-Italian official explains that the independent process would aim to recommend concrete improvements in how the organisation operates. He also suggests opening a consultation on how FIFA's decision-making can be further strengthened before the next Council meeting.

That consultation would include proposals on the role of the president himself and practical measures to increase transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives. It marks a notable change in tone for a leader who has clung to power during weeks of unprecedented criticism.

The collapse of the plan to sell World Cup rights

The crisis stems from the aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise, a project that would have created a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all FIFA competitions, including World Cups. The idea involved selling a 21% stake in that company to a private investment fund.

The plan triggered a fierce backlash from confederations and member associations. In his letter, Infantino acknowledges that the proposal entered the public domain before the planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and member associations. He also accepts that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken.

Democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale. They are not for sale and never will be.

Pressure from UEFA and Concacaf over FIFA's cash reserves

Infantino's letter comes after UEFA and Concacaf — the confederations for Europe and North America, Central America and the Caribbean — demanded that FIFA pay $10 million to each of its 211 member associations from the organisation's cash reserves.

The president responds that the project's collapse does not reduce the ambition or the responsibility to invest more in football. He says they will continue to explore sustainable ways to grow FIFA's resources and expand development and solidarity support for every member association.

The legal battle with UEFA over the project's documents

The dispute has already reached the courts. UEFA began preparing criminal legal proceedings against Infantino in the United States over the FFE plan and is demanding the release of all related documents. FIFA hit back by accusing the European confederation of launching a smear campaign against its leadership.

Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a FIFA vice-president, called on the Swiss-Italian official to make all documents relating to the controversial project public. The clash with UEFA adds unprecedented tension between the two major institutions of world football.

The 2027 election and Infantino's future at the top of FIFA

Infantino, 56, will stand for a fourth term in the presidential election in March 2027. Any potential rivals have until 18 November to register an alternative candidacy. The Council meeting on 15 October will be the first since the crisis erupted, and the president will be hoping it eases some of the pressure he is under.

Many of his critics will not settle for a change in tone alone. They want a sweeping overhaul of FIFA's governance, with limits on presidential power — such as a single term in office — greater separation between the president and the administration, a stronger focus on human rights and sustainability, and redistribution of cash reserves. The key question is whether Infantino will accept such changes if it means staying in power.

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