The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) said it will release key documents after controversy grew over plans to sell World Cup commercial rights. With criticism continuing of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s management style centered on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), FIFA appears to have stepped back.
Reuters reported on the 3rd (Korea time) that “FIFA will disclose key documents related to the plan to sell equity in the enterprise for World Cup commercial rights, which it withdrew last summer,” a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on the 2nd.
The controversy began in July. At the time FIFA announced a plan to establish a new company called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and transfer commercial rights for major tournaments, including the World Cup, to it.
The plan included a proposal to sell equity in the enterprise that would manage World Cup–related commercial rights. But strong backlash followed immediately after the announcement, and FIFA withdrew the plan within days.
Questions were raised during the process about Infantino’s management style and decision-making procedures. The controversy grew because FIFA sought to transfer the rights to the World Cup, which holds the largest commercial value in world soccer, to a separate legal entity.
According to Reuters, FIFA Secretary General Mathias Grafström sent a letter to council members on the 2nd.
The letter said that under certain conditions the related documents can be reviewed at FIFA headquarters in Zurich. However, document access is limited to FIFA Council members.
The decision came as UEFA demanded an official explanation from FIFA.
Last month UEFA demanded that Infantino explain his management policies over the FFE establishment plan and controversies surrounding the FIFA Peace Award. It set a deadline for responses at Nov. 2.
Football associations across Europe are also calling for FIFA organizational reform. With moves opposing Infantino’s re-election emerging, pressure on FIFA leadership is increasing.
However, FIFA said it is difficult to accept all of UEFA’s demands.
According to a person familiar with the matter, FIFA judged that it is realistically difficult to answer more than 100 questions in just two weeks. Accordingly, it decided to provide answers to council members at an appropriate time.
The document disclosure is also not a full public release. It is limited to FIFA Council members visiting headquarters to review the documents under set conditions.
With FIFA’s decision to disclose documents related to World Cup commercial rights, the process of pursuing the FFE plan, which was withdrawn last summer, has come back under scrutiny.
As UEFA and European football associations demand transparency and reform in organizational operations, attention is focused on how specifically FIFA can answer the raised questions.
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