Uefa has given Fifa president Gianni Infantino until 2 November to release key documents and provide answers about the organisation’s governance and decision-making.
In an eight-page letter seen by BBC Sport, Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said Fifa had failed to address “a number of fundamental questions”.
“Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided,” the letter said.
The questions were first put to Infantino at last week’s Fifa Council meeting, where he apologised for his plan to sell off part of the organisation’s commercial interests but did not provide a full explanation of how the proposal was developed. He subsequently requested that Uefa submit its questions in writing.
The 42 questions cover the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment, the Fifa Peace Prize, funding for the 211 member associations, the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, Infantino’s reported additional salary and several arrangements involving the United States.
“The withdrawal of FFE, the acknowledgement of mistakes and the announcement of ‘potential governance reforms’ do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the Fifa Council was not involved at the appropriate stage,” Theodoridis wrote.
“Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon.
“These questions require answers now. They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the Fifa Council – nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them.”
Uefa has not said what action it would take if Fifa misses the deadline. Fifa has been approached for comment.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who is also a Fifa vice-president, said after last week’s meeting: “If he doesn’t answer those questions, he’s not fit to be Fifa president.”
Questions over Fifa Forward Enterprise
Uefa wants to know when the FFE idea was first considered, who authorised its development, which Fifa officials were involved and what measures will prevent similar shortcomings.
It also asked Infantino to confirm reports that, two days before the management board bureau voted on the proposal, he told members that United States authorities were investigating Fifa’s administration. Uefa wants an explanation of the source of that information, why it was raised at that moment and whether Infantino considered the possible pressure it placed on those making the decision.
The governing body requested confirmation of whether Infantino would have held any position or role in FFE during or after his time as Fifa president.
It also questioned why Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, was given exclusivity without consultation with the Fifa Council or a competitive tendering process. Uefa referred to the company’s links to the family of the recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize. Kushner is the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, while the US president received the prize.
Uefa asked who created the award, why it was established and who decided Trump should receive it.
When the FFE plan was announced after the World Cup final, Infantino told the 211 member associations they could receive $40m (£30m) if they supported it, with a 19 September deadline to accept the proposal and secure an initial $20m (£15m).
After the plan was abandoned, Uefa and Concacaf asked Fifa to distribute at least $10m (£7.5m) from its reserves to each member association. Infantino later proposed increasing global football-development funding by $3.4bn (£2.6bn).
That would double planned distribution funding from 2027 to 2030, with $25m (£19m) available to each member association. Uefa asked why the increase had been linked to FFE and outside investment rather than financed directly by Fifa, and why private funding had been considered necessary given Fifa’s financial position.
Sources have indicated that legal action brought by Uefa could restrict Fifa’s ability to answer some questions. Last month, Uefa filed papers in the US seeking evidence and documents from Fifa and warned it could make a criminal complaint in Switzerland.
Balogun case and other concerns
Uefa also wants a full explanation of the decision to lift Balogun’s suspension after he was sent off at the World Cup. Fifa’s disciplinary committee overturned the ban after Trump asked Infantino for the case to be reviewed.
Fifa has said the committee was independent, but its legal committee is considering changes to the disciplinary code to prevent a similar situation. An update is expected in December.
Uefa asked what Trump requested, how Infantino responded and whether the case would have been reviewed without Trump’s intervention. It also requested details of any communications involving Infantino, Fifa secretary general, administration staff or the chair of the disciplinary committee.
It wants all correspondence on the case, the full written reasons for the decision, the evidence considered and an explanation of why the matter was decided by a single committee member and what exceptional circumstances justified that approach.
Uefa also asked why no disciplinary action was taken against DR Congo after reports that the country used an ineligible player in World Cup qualifying. Normally, this would lead to disqualification.
Infantino payments and US links
Reports before last week’s Fifa Council claimed Infantino had received an additional salary from FWC2026 US Inc., Fifa’s United States World Cup organising entity, which was not included in Fifa’s annual report.
Uefa wants the nature, amount and basis of the payments, why they were not disclosed, whether they were approved by the relevant Fifa bodies, and whether they were taxable income on which tax was paid.
The letter also asks about reported discussions involving Trump and associates over a Fifa cryptocurrency, a $75m (£56.3m) investment in Palestine through Trump’s Board of Peace, the 27-minute half-time interval in the World Cup final and mandatory hydration breaks.
Uefa requested details of a seven-year, $4m (£3m) lease at Trump Tower in New York involving Eric Trump, including why the premises were reportedly unused for much of the year.
It said the issues raised questions beyond the normal relationship between Fifa and the government of a World Cup host country, including decision-making, conflicts of interest, financial consequences and whether the relevant Fifa bodies were consulted.
Finally, Uefa questioned the impartiality of the chair of Fifa’s electoral committee ahead of next year’s presidential election, saying he attended the entire 2026 World Cup as an accredited individual with expenses paid by Fifa for more than five weeks. It also requested a complete list of guests in the VIP and VVIP areas, including their names, positions and reasons for being invited.
