{
  "id": 8094803,
  "title": "English FA calls for Infantino to release World Cup sell-off documents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/english-fa-calls-for-infantino-to-release-world-cup-sell-off-documents",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T20:23:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/premier-league/2026-09-17-english-fa-calls-for-infantino-to-release-world-cup-sell-off-documents/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association and FIFA vice-president, has requested FIFA president Gianni Infantino release all documentation pertaining to the scrapped plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. The proposal was abandoned after widespread criticism from the football community, leading UEFA to threaten a boycott of all FIFA competitions. Hewitt, who is also a member of the FIFA Council, has written to Infantino requesting full transparency before their next meeting on October 15. She has also sought to disclose the reasons behind the suspension of a ban imposed on US striker Folarin Balogun, following a call from US President Donald Trump to Infantino. Infantino apologized for the handling of both the private investor plan and the Balogun ban in August, and FIFA's management board pledged to review the situation. However, FIFA has not yet confirmed the entity conducting the investigation. UEFA has expressed its loss of confidence in Infantino and has initiated legal proceedings in the US court system to obtain documents related to the private investor plan. They have also vowed to identify a suitable candidate to challenge Infantino at the FIFA Congress in March, with a deadline of November 18 for candidates to submit their names. Infantino has confirmed his intention to run for re-election.",
  "summary": "The chair of the English Football Association has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to release all the documentation relating to the abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "FA chair calls for release of files on Infantino's controversial World Cup sell-off plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fa-chair-calls-for-release-of-files-on-infantinos-controversial-world",
        "published": "2026-09-17T13:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "FA chair demands Infantino release World Cup sell-off documents",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fa-chair-demands-infantino-release-world-cup-sell-off-documents",
        "published": "2026-09-17T14:26:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Release FIFA World Cup plan documents, FA chair tells Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/release-fifa-world-cup-plan-documents-fa-chair-tells-infantino",
        "published": "2026-09-17T15:40:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "FA's Hewitt asks Infantino to release records on World Cup plan, Balogun suspension",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fas-hewitt-asks-infantino-to-release-records-on-world-cup-plan",
        "published": "2026-09-17T16:11:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "English FA calls for Infantino to release FIFA World Cup sell-off documents",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/english-fa-calls-for-infantino-to-release-fifa-world-cup-sell-off",
        "published": "2026-09-17T18:15:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Quarter-final fixtures confirmed [Full list]",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/fifa-u-20-womens-world-cup-quarter-final-fixtures-confirmed-full-list",
        "published": "2026-09-17T19:25:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "English FA calls for Infantino to release World Cup sell-off documents",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/english-fa-calls-for-infantino-to-release-world-cup-sell-off-documents-8111158",
        "published": "2026-09-17T21:19:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}