FIFA will give members of its ruling council access to some documents for the first time related to the World Cup sell-off, Sky News understands.
A letter has been sent by FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom to council members as the deadline was reached for the governing body to respond to a series of questions about the controversy from UEFA, which is pushing for Gianni Infantino’s departure.
It is understood council members will have access to “key documents” only in person at FIFA HQ in Zurich.
Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino presenting the World Cup trophy to Spain in July. Pic: Reuters
UEFA has sought all documents on the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, saying it could pursue a case against Mr Infantino for criminal mismanagement in Switzerland, alleging he undersold the tournaments for personal financial benefit.
Mr Infantino planned the project in secret with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing FIFA’s normal governance processes and failing to consult FIFA’s Council, regional confederations or member associations, UEFA has alleged.
In response, FIFA accused European football’s governing body of “harassment”, and trying to influence FIFA’s presidential election by “spreading misinformation”.
That election takes place in March, when Mr Infantino will try to be re-elected for another term.
The football associations of England, Scotland and Wales are among those which have withdrawn their support for the embattled chief, along with UEFA itself, although it has not nominated an alternative candidate, ahead of the deadline later this month.
In September, Sky News revealed that UEFA and CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) wrote to Mr Infantino claiming FIFA’s reserves are set to rise to $6bn (£4.5bn) – highlighting FIFA’s financial strength despite its president claiming private equity from the scheme was needed to fund football development.
Last month, UEFA sent a list of 42 questions to FIFA, demanding answers about Gianni Infantino’s alleged “conflicts of interest” over business dealings with the Trump family and the World Cup sell-off attempt.
UEFA wrote: “A series of decisions, transactions and interventions involving the FIFA President, the President of the United States and individuals associated with him raise serious questions concerning potential conflicts of interest, transparency and institutional accountability.”
The letter pointed to concerns about Mr Infantino’s discussions with Donald Trump and associates over the creation of a FIFA cryptocurrency, as Sky News revealed in February.
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UEFA also demanded answers on, among other matters, the cancelling of US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card at the World Cup after the two men spoke, creating a FIFA Peace Prize for Mr Trump without the FIFA Council’s approval and FIFA’s $75m (£57m) investment in Palestine during Mr Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in February without the FIFA Council or finance committee’s approval.
It called for a “genuinely independent investigation” into the World Cup sell-off that was abandoned by Mr Infantino after a backlash led by Europe.
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