UEFA gives FIFA a Nov. 2 deadline to release Infantino World Cup plan documents

LONDON (AP) — UEFA has given FIFA until November 2 to release documents pertaining to Gianni Infantino's aborted efforts at a secretive investment plan for the World Cup and other governance matters. The deadline comes in the wake of UEFA's European delegates expressing dissatisfaction over what they perceived as insufficient clarity from FIFA president Infantino during a recent FIFA council meeting.

Infantino had launched and subsequently abandoned a $4.2 billion World Cup sell-off plan in July, which sparked widespread criticism, particularly in Europe. UEFA has compiled 42 questions for FIFA, seeking answers on Infantino's remuneration, payments made to singer Marc Anthony, the handling of disciplinary cases involving U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, business and political relationships with Donald Trump and his family, and the operational independence of FIFA's judicial, electoral, and ethics committees.

UEFA has also asked U.S. federal courts to issue subpoenas to compel the production of documents and sworn testimony related to the abandoned investment plan, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise. FIFA has accused UEFA of harassment, arguing that Infantino's apologies and explanations have not satisfactorily addressed the core concerns raised by UEFA council members.

UEFA submitted its 42 detailed questions to FIFA, demanding responses by November 2, which is 16 days before the presidential election nomination deadline scheduled for March 18. The next FIFA council meeting is set for December 16 in Doha, after nominations close. UEFA insists that the answers cannot be delayed until the next meeting or replaced by future governance reforms when scrutinizing decisions already made and holding the organization accountable.