{
  "id": 8129098,
  "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-8129098",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T22:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/fa-chair-demands-infantino-release-world-cup-sell-off-documents/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been directed to release all documents related to his plan to sell a stake in the World Cup, according to a letter from Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt. Hewitt, a FIFA vice-president, also requested a written explanation for the cancellation of the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. Infantino is expected to provide the documents before the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15th. The letter, sent to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström as well, criticizes FIFA for governance failures and a breakdown in culture. Infantino has faced increasing pressure over his scrapped FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which would have created a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold to a private investment company. The proposal was abandoned following widespread opposition from national associations. Hewitt's letter also calls for an independent review of how FFE was conceived, who was involved, and how the private investment was put up for tender. Last month, UEFA initiated criminal legal proceedings against Infantino in three US courts over the FFE plan and demanded the release of all documents. FIFA responded by accusing UEFA of launching a \"smear campaign against it and its leadership\" in a challenge to the litigation. Infantino, 56, will seek re-election for a fourth term in March, with his opponents required to present an alternative candidate by November 18th. The Balogun incident further troubled the FA, which had previously expressed support for Infantino's re-election. The incident involved Balogun, 25, being allowed to play in a World Cup match despite serving a one-match suspension for a red card. The FA expressed concerns about political intervention, and US President Donald Trump personally called Infantino to request the review of Balogun's ban. The cancellation of the FFE proposal has fractured the game, with FIFA, Infantino, and their actions accused of breaking trust through deception by an open letter signed by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. While Infantino still enjoys broad support, with the confederations of Africa, South America, and Oceania reaffirming their backing, many national associations, including England, Wales, and Scotland, have withdrawn their letters of support for Infantino's re-election.",
  "summary": "FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been told to release all documents relating to his controversial plan to sell a stake in the World Cup in a letter from Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "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": "IOL",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-17T20:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}