FIFA will grant its Council members access to key confidential documents detailing the defunct FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, following mounting pressure from UEFA and European football officials. Championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the controversial project aimed to bring private equity investors into the World Cup. However, the plan was abandoned in August after three continental confederations rejected the deal and UEFA threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions.
The disclosure follows a letter sent by UEFA on October 19 on behalf of European members of the FIFA Council, demanding answers to a 42-point inquiry addressing FFE and broader governance concerns surrounding Infantino’s presidency, including the Folarin Balogun disciplinary case. While FIFA viewed responding to all 42 areas within UEFA’s two-week deadline as unfeasible, the governing body agreed to open access to the FFE project files, promising a wider response to the remaining governance matters in due course.
