UEFA has contacted FIFA to demand a response by Nov. 2 to 42 questions relating to Gianni Infantino‘s failed plan to raise $20 billion in a partial sell-off of the World Cup, the process behind the overturning of a red card for USMNT forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 tournament, and the decision to establish a FIFA Peace Prize and award it to United States President Donald Trump.
The letter dated Oct. 19 from UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafström, seen by ESPN, cites the “serious concerns raised regarding the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and others matters relating to FIFA’s governance and decision-making.”
UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions following FIFA president Infantino’s unilateral attempt to raise funds with the World Cup sell-off plan to Thrive Capital, a private equity company led by Josh Kushner, the brother of President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
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And although UEFA subsequently withdrew its threat after receiving FIFA assurances that there would be no repeat of the FFE plan, the European governing body continues to oppose Infantino’s ongoing leadership and efforts to seek reelection in March 2027.
The letter to FIFA general secretary Grafström demands answers to questions including who granted exclusivity to Thrive Capital without prior consultation with the FIFA Council, when FFE was first raised as a project and by whom and what did President Trump ask of Infantino during a phone call, to call for Balogun’s red card to be overturned.
In his letter, Theoridis tells Grafström that “explanations have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions raised by Council members. Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided.
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“We also note FIFA’s subsequent public statement concerning the meeting. 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.
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“Following the invitation made during the meeting to submit our questions in writing, we therefore enclose a consolidated set of questions and requests for information.
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“We formally request a substantive written response to each question, together with all supporting documentation by Monday 2nd November.”
Infantino has yet to face a confirmed challenger for the FIFA presidency, with nominations due to close on Nov. 18 for the election which will be held at FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027.
