{
  "id": 529855,
  "title": "Infantino crisis shows football needs independent non-exec, says ex-Fifa advisor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/infantino-crisis-shows-football-needs-independent-non-exec-says-ex",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-11T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/infantino-crisis-shows-football-needs-independent-non-exec-says-ex-fifa-advisor/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Fifa and Uefa advisor Ebru Koksal argues that world football requires independent non-executive directors, following the recent crisis at the top of the sport. Current Fifa president Gianni Infantino faces calls to resign over his secret plans to sell stakes in a commercial entity managing the World Cup, which would attract private investors including Donald Trump's family. Senior Fifa officials denounced the plan and highlighted the lack of consultation before its leaked two weeks ago. Koksal, chair of Women in Football, believes global sport would benefit from stronger board governance and more independent decision-making. She suggests that having experienced non-executive directors from outside the football ecosystem, such as a former FTSE 100 CEO, would bring valuable governance, strategy, risk management, and organizational transformation expertise. Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan has sparked controversy and questions about why Fifa needs to raise capital when it has billions in reserves. Koksal, a former Wall Street investment banker, notes that the governance concerns surrounding the plan add to a list of red flags for Infantino's presidency, including disputes with leagues, clubs, and player unions over expanding Fifa competitions and commercializing the tournament. The crisis has prompted Women in Football to relaunch its Open Doors Agenda, which advocates for better governance, including transparent recruitment, term limits, and clear reporting systems to ensure accountability.",
  "summary": "The crisis at the top of world football has again shown the need for independent non-executive directors, says former Fifa and Uefa advisor Ebru Koksal. Fifa president Gianni Infantino is staring down calls to quit over his secret plans to sell stakes in a new commercial entity that would manage the World Cup to private [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Fifa advisor Ebru Koksal calls for independent non-executive directors in football.",
    "Current Fifa president Gianni Infantino faces resignation calls over secret stake-selling plan.",
    "Koksal suggests experienced non-executives could improve governance and decision-making."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The call for independent non-executive directors in football's governance structure reflects a push for stronger board oversight and more transparent decision-making to prevent crises like the Infantino controversy.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}