Uefa demands answers from Fifa president on governance and World Cup decisions

UPDATE - follow-up to Uefa gives Infantino two-week deadline to release key documents: European governing body Uefa has told Fifa that it must release key documents and answer all questions about its governance and decision-making by 2 November.

Questions Raised

In a letter seen by BBC Sport, Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said that world football's governing body failed to address a number of fundamental questions and provide requested documentation. The letter contains eight pages of questions covering several issues, including the Fifa Forward Enterprise private investment, the Fifa Peace Prize, and the suspended ban given to USA striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup. Theodoridis stated that any refusal to disclose information must be justified individually with clear grounds.

Balogun Case And Trump

Fifa president Gianni Infantino faced scrutiny over the case of Balogun, who avoided an immediate suspension after being sent off at the tournament. Balogun's ban was lifted by Fifa's disciplinary committee after US President Donald Trump asked Infantino for a review. Uefa asked what Trump asked for, what the response was, and if the case would have been reviewed without that intervention. Uefa also requested all correspondence between the disciplinary committee chair and the Fifa administration.

Investments And Awards

Uefa questioned the Fifa Forward Enterprise plan, asking when the idea was explored, who authorized it, and why Thrive Capital was selected as lead investor without a competitive tender. Joshua Kushner is the brother of Trump's son-in-law, and Trump was awarded the Fifa Peace Prize. Uefa asked who decided to establish the Peace Prize and who chose Trump to receive it. After Infantino's initial sell-off plan was abandoned, Infantino agreed to increase money handed out for football development by $3.4bn following calls from Uefa and Concacaf.

Context

Fifa operates as the international governing body for association football, overseeing major global tournaments like the World Cup and setting rules for the sport worldwide. Regional bodies like Uefa represent football associations within specific continents and frequently engage with Fifa on policy, governance, and financial matters. Deadlines set between such major sporting bodies typically serve to force formal institutional responses ahead of upcoming council meetings.