Fifa president Gianni Infantino has agreed to authorize an independent governance review following growing pressure prompted by the controversy surrounding the proposed World Cup-related sale.
Reports last month indicated that several Fifa Council members had been calling for an external examination of both the planned sale of Fifa Forward Enterprise and the dispute involving Folarin Balogun. Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt intensified those demands last week by asking Infantino to disclose all documents connected to the two matters.
Although Infantino did not directly address the concerns raised by council members, a letter distributed to all 211 Fifa member associations showed that he was prepared to accept outside scrutiny for the first time.
Infantino also invited suggestions for assessing Fifa’s internal decision-making procedures. He said the proposals would be considered at the next Fifa Council meeting in Zurich on 15 October.
“First, I will ask the council whether it wants to authorize an independent external assessment of Fifa’s existing governance structure for major strategic projects and identify possible improvements,” Infantino wrote.
“Second, I will recommend that the council begin a direct, organized and time-limited consultation with confederations, member associations and other relevant parties to consider how Fifa’s decision-making system can be improved.
“Participants would be asked to submit detailed suggestions concerning earlier institutional involvement, the responsibilities of the president, bureau, council and congress, and practical measures to improve transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic projects.”
The Fifa Council consists of 28 delegates from the six confederations, eight vice-presidents and Infantino. It is widely expected to approve an external review, although its scope will determine whether the governing body is genuinely prepared to introduce substantial reforms or whether the move is intended to reinforce Infantino’s position before next March’s presidential election.
However, Infantino’s letter to the member associations does not specifically promise an examination of Fifa Forward Enterprise or the Balogun case, meaning he has not fully accepted Hewitt’s demands.
Infantino is also facing calls to distribute funds from Fifa’s $6bn (£4.5bn) cash reserves. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani formally requested last week that every national association receive at least $10m.
Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa submitted a similar request on Monday. Funding is also expected to be discussed during next month’s Fifa Council meeting.
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