Infantino offers independent governance review as FIFA quit calls grow louder

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of the organisation’s governance structure, writing to member associations with an olive branch after a turbulent period that has seen calls for his resignation intensify.

The 56-year-old Swiss official came under sustained criticism following his plans to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s commercial rights — including those tied to the World Cup — to outside investors. The proposal, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was hastily withdrawn after member associations publicly denounced both the scheme and Infantino’s leadership style.

In his letter, Infantino said he would ask the FIFA Council whether it wishes to launch an “independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements”. The proposals would also address the role of the president himself, alongside “practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives”.

Despite the pressure, Infantino made clear he has no intention of stepping aside. “I remain fully committed to leading FIFA and confident in what we can achieve together,” he wrote. He is widely expected to run unopposed in March’s presidential election.

On the controversy surrounding the FFE plan, Infantino pushed back against the characterisation that FIFA’s independence had been compromised, insisting the proposal “did not involve relinquishing FIFA’s control or authority over sporting decisions” and that “democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale.”

He acknowledged, however, that the manner in which the plan entered the public domain had caused damage. “The proposal entered the public domain before FIFA’s planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the Member Associations,” he wrote. “I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not.”

Infantino confirmed the FFE plan has been formally withdrawn and will not proceed, framing the episode as a lesson in process rather than intent. A meeting of the FIFA Council is expected next month, where the governance review proposal is likely to be formally tabled.