Sources: FA chief demands docs on FIFA equity plan
Sources: FA chief demands docs on FIFA equity plan. FIFA vice-president and FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt has demanded FIFA president Gianni Infantino releases all documents concerning his proposal for private investors to buy stakes in the World Cup, sources have told ESPN.
What happened
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Gianni Infantino was first elected as Fifa president in 2016ByDale JohnsonFootball issues correspondentPublished17 September 2026Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been told to release all documents relating to his controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup in a letter sent by Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt. Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, said that the Fifa Council should also receive a written explanation for the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
But as yet there has been no contact with the Fifa Council to explain the controversial plan. Infantino should make all documents available before the next Fifa Council meeting, which is on 15 October. The letter, also sent to Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, makes accusations of failures in governance and a breakdown in culture within the world football governing body. Infantino has come under increasing pressure over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. Last month, Uefa began preparing criminal legal proceedings against Infantino at three US courts over the FFE plan, demanded the release of all documents.
The wider picture
Fifa hit back and accused Uefa of a "smear campaign against it and its leadership" in a challenge to the litigation. Fifa then said the automatic one-match ban would be suspended for a year. Fifa and Infantino were accused of breaking trust "through deception" in an open letter issued by Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation last month. After FFE was cancelled, Infantino called a meeting of the Fifa management board in Rabat, Morocco.
That is set to change next month when Infantino must face Hewitt and the other 35 Fifa Council members. When asked about the plan, Trump called it "laughable". The EU chief said it would be a "mechanism to flank" Article 4, a term that could be interpreted as complementing Nato functions or – if taken in a military context – bypassing them. Plans to curb social media use among children, including banning platforms for under 13s, were also put forward.
What has been reported
Related topicsEuropeEuropean UnionEuropean CommissionMore on this storyTrump's grand plan to reshape the world order leaves Europe with a difficult choice to makePublished9 JanuaryCarney gambles on the world's biggest investors betting on CanadaPublished3 days ago FFE would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company. The proposal was scrapped following widespread opposition from national associations. Hewitt's letter adds that there should be an independent review of how FFE was conceived, by whom, and how the private investment was put to tender.
Infantino, 56, will stand for election for a fourth time in March, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate. Balogun incident placed doubts in FA's mindThe Football Association was troubled by the Balogun situation from the outset, and had requested the release of the documents relating to his overturned ban during the World Cup. Forward Balogun, 25, was allowed to play against Belgium in the last 16 when he would have expected to be serving a one-match suspension.
The striker had been shown a straight red card for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32.
What happens next
No reasoning behind the move was provided, beyond citing a rule which allows punishments to be suspended. The FA, which had sent a letter of support for Infantino's re-election before the Balogun incident, had deep concerns about political intervention. US President Donald Trump later confirmed he called Infantino asking for Balogun's ban to be reviewed. Then the FFE proposal, revealed through the media just days after the World Cup final, fractured the game. Many national associations, including those of England, Wales and Scotland, have withdrawn letters of support for Infantino's re-election.
But Infantino still holds a great deal of support around the globe, with the confederations of Africa, South America and Oceania reiterating their backing. Related topicsFootballMore on this storyFollow your club with BBC SportPublished8 JuneListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phonePublished28 August
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.