Infantino opens door to FIFA governance reform after FFE backlash
Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of FIFA’s governance and a formal consultation on decision-making reforms, responding to mounting criticism over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan ahead of a key FIFA Council meeting on October 15.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed two governance reform measures following the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprise, including an independent external review of how major strategic initiatives are handled.Infantino outlined the proposals in a letter sent to FIFA Council members and the presidents of all 211 member associations ahead of the Council meeting on October 15.Infantino wrote: “First, I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements.“Second, I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured and time-limited consultation with confederations, Member Associations and relevant stakeholders on how FIFA’s decision-making can be further strengthened.”The consultation would examine earlier institutional involvement, the respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, and ways to improve transparency, participation and accountability.The intervention follows sustained criticism over FFE, which would have created a commercial vehicle around FIFA competitions and allowed US investment fund Thrive Eternal to acquire a minority stake.Infantino said the proposal had been misunderstood because it entered the public domain before FIFA’s internal process had been completed.He added: “I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not.“It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to the necessary approvals of the Council and the Member Associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed.”Infantino also sought to draw a line between commercial proposals and control of football governance.“FIFA’s democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale,” he wrote. “They are not for sale and never will be.”The FFE dispute has developed into a wider argument over how major financial and strategic decisions are made within FIFA, with several confederations and national associations pressing for stronger oversight.Infantino said the episode had reinforced the need for trusted processes around future proposals.He wrote: “A worthwhile objective must be matched by a process that commands confidence. Major ideas must be developed, tested and communicated through clear and trusted institutions. That is a responsibility I take seriously.”The FIFA Council will decide whether to proceed with either reform proposal.Infantino also said FIFA would continue examining ways to increase resources available for football development, but that future initiatives would need to move through a stronger institutional process.The governance debate will now move into the October 15 Council meeting, less than five weeks before the November 18 deadline for rival candidates to enter the March 2027 FIFA presidential election.