Arabic version: إنفانتينو يقترح مراجعة خارجية لحوكمة فيفا

According to BBC News, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of how world football’s governing body operates and said he is open to reform. In a letter to Fifa Council members and all national associations, he said an independent process would recommend potential improvements.

Before a Council meeting next month, Infantino said he was also proposing a consultation on how Fifa’s decision-making could be further strengthened. The consultation would consider the role of the president and practical ways to improve transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives. He said confederations, member associations and relevant stakeholders would be involved.

The move follows increasing pressure over the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have involved selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. The plan would have created a company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold to a private investment company.

Infantino said the proposal did not involve giving up Fifa’s control or authority over sporting decisions. He acknowledged that it entered the public domain before Fifa’s planned institutional process was complete and before it could be fully presented to the Council and member associations, creating concern and an impression that decisions had already been made.

Uefa and Concacaf have demanded that Fifa pay $10m to each of its 211 members from cash reserves. Uefa has also begun preparing criminal legal proceedings in US courts over the FFE plan, seeking the release of documents. Infantino, first elected in 2016, is set to stand for a fourth election in March 2027.