Infantino says Fifa can change as he proposes review

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has suggested establishing an external review to examine how the organization functions, and he is open to making changes. In a letter to members of the Fifa Council and national associations, Infantino proposes that the independent process should recommend potential improvements. Before a meeting of the Council, Infantino is also suggesting consultations on how Fifa's decision-making process can be strengthened, including proposals about the president's role and ways to improve transparency, participation, and accountability in major strategic initiatives.

Infantino has faced growing criticism over the aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which involved selling stakes in World Cup and other competitions to private investors. The proposal sparked significant backlash, but Infantino claims it did not involve relinquishing Fifa's control or authority over sporting decisions. He emphasizes that democratic processes, independence, and sporting authority were never up for sale and will not be in the future.

Infantino is under pressure following demands from Uefa and Concacaf, the confederations for Europe and North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, for Fifa to pay $10 million to all 211 members from its cash reserves. The FFE plan would have created a new company to handle commercial and ticketing rights for all Fifa competitions, with 21% of the company sold to a private investment firm.

Infantino states that the collapse of FFE does not diminish the ambition or responsibility to invest more of Fifa's success in football, but it does change the process through which major ideas are developed, tested, and decided.

Fifa's leader, who is seeking a fourth term in March 2027, will address the Fifa Council for the first time since the crisis began on October 15. He hopes this meeting will alleviate some of the pressure he is facing. However, critics want an overhaul of Fifa's governance, including limiting the president's power, enhancing separation between the president and the administration, emphasizing human rights and sustainability, and redistributing cash reserves.

It remains to be seen if Infantino's willingness to accept some changes will be enough to win over his critics.