The Football Association (FA) has intensified demands for transparency and accountability from FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding two contentious issues: the abandoned plan to sell a commercial stake in the World Cup and the lifting of the World Cup ban on United States striker Folarin Balogun.
FA chairwoman and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt has formally requested the release of all documents and communications related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, under which FIFA intended to create a company to manage commercial rights for World Cup tournaments and sell a 20 percent stake to private investors. The plan, first revealed in July, faced widespread criticism and was rejected by three continental confederations. Infantino withdrew the proposal in early August and apologized for the process but has not yet disclosed who will lead the promised independent review of the project.
Hewitt’s letter to Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström also calls for full disclosure concerning the decision to lift the one-match ban imposed on Balogun during last summer’s World Cup. Balogun had been shown a straight red card for serious foul play in the United States’ round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, after a phone call from then-US President Donald Trump to Infantino, the suspension was rescinded, allowing Balogun to participate in the subsequent round of 16 match against Belgium, which the U.S. lost 4-1.
FIFA maintains that the decision followed appropriate procedures, with the disciplinary committee independently overturning Balogun’s ban, though a formal report has yet to be published. Questions remain among FIFA Council members, with several raising concerns about the transparency and governance of these matters. Pascale Van Damme, Royal Belgian FA president and FIFA Council member, stated that inquiries from her federation about the Balogun case remain unanswered two months after the tournament.
The FA’s demand for disclosure and an independent review occurs as FIFA approaches its next council meeting in Zurich on October 15, the first gathering since the FFE plan’s withdrawal. Although efforts to convene an extraordinary FIFA general meeting to hold Infantino accountable have fallen short, the FA and other football governing bodies, including UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, have called for greater clarity and accountability. UEFA has also initiated legal action seeking documents relating to the investment proposal and pledged to support a credible challenger ahead of Infantino’s March re-election bid.
Infantino has sought to bolster support from regions outside Europe, garnering backing from African, South American, and Middle Eastern football associations, while maintaining his candidacy for a second term. The FA’s intensified scrutiny reflects not only concerns about FIFA’s governance but also the high stakes for the United Kingdom, the sole bidder for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, pending FIFA Congress approval later this year.