World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
FIFA Council members can review documents on abandoned $20bn plan
FIFA will let Council members inspect selected documents in Zurich about a proposed $20bn commercial venture linked to its competitions.
The plan, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, was intended to attract private investment but was abandoned after football federations raised concerns about transparency and decision-making.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologised for the abandoned proposal at a Council meeting but did not explain fully how it was developed.
UEFA had asked FIFA to answer questions about the plan and its governance by 2 November, and that deadline has now passed.
FIFA says the documents can be viewed only in person under strict confidentiality rules, and it has not said exactly which files will be available.
UEFA says fundamental questions remain unanswered, while FIFA says it is preparing a response and argues the plan would have required Council and member-association approval.
The dispute adds pressure on Infantino as he prepares to seek a fourth term in March 2027, with candidates due to submit nominations by 18 November.
FIFA will let its Council members inspect documents about the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal at its Zurich headquarters.
The review will take place under confidentiality conditions, and the exact documents available are unclear.
The move comes after UEFA’s deadline for FIFA to answer questions about the plan and other governance issues expired on 2 November.
FIFA says UEFA’s two-week deadline was unfeasible and says it is preparing a response for Council members.
UEFA has sought greater transparency and has pursued legal action in the United States to obtain documents.
- Who
- FIFA Council members will be able to inspect the documents. UEFA is seeking answers from FIFA.
- What
- FIFA is offering access to documents about the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, but not public disclosure or a full response to UEFA.
- When
- FIFA’s offer was reported on 2 November 2026. Council members were given until 16 November to apply for visits.
- Where
- FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Why
- UEFA has pressed FIFA to explain how the proposal was developed and to answer questions about governance and decision-making.
UEFA
FIFA
Access to documents
UEFA
UEFA asked for all FFE documents to be made accessible.
FIFA
FIFA is offering Council members an in-person review of selected material under confidentiality conditions.
Response deadline
UEFA
UEFA said its questions required answers by 2 November.
FIFA
FIFA said the two-week deadline was unfeasible given the number of questions and other commitments.
Accountability
UEFA
UEFA said withdrawal of the proposal and planned governance reforms do not answer how decisions were made or why the Council was not involved at the appropriate stage.
FIFA
FIFA said the proposal could not have proceeded without Council and member-association approval, and that withdrawing it carried no penalty for FIFA.
UEFA wrote to FIFA asking it to answer questions about FFE and other issues within two weeks.
UEFA’s deadline for FIFA to respond expired.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström invited Council members to register for in-person document reviews in Zurich.
Deadline set for Council members to apply for document-review visits.
Potential candidates for the FIFA presidential election were due to confirm whether they were standing.
- Proposal
- FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)
- Estimated value
- Around $20 billion
- Review location
- FIFA headquarters, Zurich
- Application deadline
- 16 November 2026
- UEFA response deadline
- 2 November 2026
- Planned presidential election
- March 2027
7 sources
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What people are saying
currently working on a response which we will share with all council members in due course.
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.
harassment
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