English FA calls for Infantino to release World Cup sell-off documents

The English Football Association (FA) has written to Fifa president Gianni Infantino requesting complete transparency regarding all aspects of a previously abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. This disclosure is being sought as the Fifa Council is set to meet on October 15. Infantino's proposal was swiftly met with widespread criticism from various sections of the sporting community, leading to Uefa, the European governing body, threatening to boycott all Fifa competitions until the plan was abandoned.

FA chair Debbie Hewitt, who also holds the position of a Fifa vice-president and a member of the Fifa Council, has penned a letter to Infantino, demanding full disclosure of all information pertaining to the scheme before the next Fifa Council meeting on October 15. Hewitt has also urged for the release of documents concerning the decision to suspend a ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, following a phone call from then US President Donald Trump to Infantino.

Following the backlash over the private investor plan, Infantino apologized in August, and Fifa's management board announced a review. However, there has been no confirmation yet about who is conducting this investigation. Uefa has expressed its loss of confidence in Infantino and has filed legal applications in the US court system, seeking disclosure of documents related to the private investor plan.

Additionally, Uefa has vowed to identify a credible candidate to contest Infantino's re-election at the Fifa Congress in March, with a deadline of November 18 for submitting candidates.