FIFA

UEFA’s Ceferin says FIFA trust still broken after Infantino investment row

UEFA president speaks for the first time since FIFA said it would review its decision-making, says trust still broken.

Al Jazeera2h ago

• neutral toward FIFA · 92%

Will anyone topple Infantino? How Fifa president is trying to cling on after World Cup sell-off debacle

Fifa president continues to lobby for re-election despite no other candidates coming forward to challenge him For Gianni Infantino there is no international break. The Fifa president is widely expected to make an appearance at the United Nations general assembly this week in New York, where he will lobby heads of state for their federations’ support as he continues his campaign to be re-elected next year. Infantino has not been idle during the lull since Fifa abandoned its World Cup sell-off plan last month, instead crisscrossing the globe on a private jet provided by Qatar Airways as part of its sponsorship deal with world football’s governing body. Continue reading...

The Guardian•Matt Hughes and Nick Ames18h ago

• critical toward FIFA · 99%
• critical toward Infantino · 99%

FAW chief Monney challenges Infantino's Fifa reform claims

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney challenges suggestions Fifa is planning major reforms.

BBC23h ago

• neutral toward FIFA · 96%

FIFA President Infantino’s letter a ploy for re-election, says German FA

Infantino proposed an independent review of FIFA's decision-making process amid criticism of his leadership.

Al Jazeera22 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 96%

Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reform

Paris: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent review of the world soccer body's decision-making, in a move that could help him regain support after the withdrawal of a controversial private investment plan. "First, I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements," Infantino wrote to the FIFA ⁠Council and all 211 member association presidents in a letter seen by Reuters. He also said he would propose consultations with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on strengthening FIFA's decision-making. The proposals would examine who has a say in major initiatives, including the respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, and ‌how to improve transparency and accountability. Infantino faced a fierce backlash over his proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan was abandoned in July after opposition and boycott ‌threats, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF subsequently calling for changes to ‌FIFA's leadership. His opponents have been struggling to find a candidate to challenge Infantino, who will be running ‌for re-election in March in Rabat. Sources ‌familiar with the discussions told Reuters this month that he still had enough votes to win, prompting opponents to focus on curbing his powers. Infantino said ​the abandoned plan had explored ‌whether selling a minority stake in ​a FIFA-controlled commercial company could raise more money ⁠for football development. It would not have involved giving up control over sporting decisions, he said. But the proposal became public before it could be presented in full to the Council and member associations, according to Infantino. "I recognise that, ​without the full context, ⁠this caused concern and created ⁠the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," he wrote in the letter sent on Monday. "It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to the necessary approvals of the Council and the ⁠Member Associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed." Infantino said he had heard differing ideas about who should decide major strategic questions. Some favoured requiring unanimous agreement in the Bureau, while others wanted such matters put directly to Congress and the member associations. "My role is not to pre-judge that discussion. Those who support a particular model should have the opportunity to set out their case clearly," he ‌wrote. Suggestions received by the October 15 Council meeting could be discussed there, with later submissions also considered within a deadline yet to be ​specified. Any changes to FIFA's statutes would need Congress approval. Infantino also said member associations' positions on proposals or governance matters would not affect their treatment by FIFA, whose development and solidarity programmes would continue under existing rules. "No association’s treatment will depend on its position on any proposal or institutional matter," he wrote. "I remain fully committed to ​leading FIFA and confident in what we ‌can achieve together."

• neutral toward FIFA · 90%

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is open to talks over organizational reform

FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed an outside review of ‌how the governing body makes major decisions on Monday, acknowledging in a letter to members its handling of a now-abandoned investment plan had caused concern.

CBC News21 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 84%

Infantino proposes an ‘independent external review’ of Fifa governance

President writes to council and member nations Infantino says he is ‘fully committed to leading Fifa’ The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, proposed an outside review of how the governing body ⁠makes major decisions on ⁠Monday, acknowledging in a ​letter to members that its handling of a now-abandoned investment plan had caused concern. “First, I will ask the council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review ⁠of Fifa’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements,” Infantino wrote to the Fifa council and all 211 member association presidents. Continue reading...

The Guardian•Reuters21 Sept

• neutral toward Infantino · 90%

Infantino says he's 'open' to talks about FIFA reform in letter to football chiefs

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to football chiefs saying he is open to talks about reforming the organisation, without offering to quit his role.

Sky News21 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 87%

Infantino proposes external review of Fifa governance

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an external review of the governance of world football's governing body.

BBC21 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 97%

Embattled Gianni Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reform

FIFA president proposes 'consultation' with members to reform world football governing body's decision-making process.

Al Jazeera21 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 90%

Infantino says open to FIFA reform talks after World Cup controversy

FIFA ⁠President Gianni Infantino on Monday proposed an external review of how the football association makes decisions, including who has a say in major initiatives. Infantino ​faced backlash and calls for a boycott over the summer after proposing to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.

France 24•FRANCE 2421 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 91%

France’s sports minister mandates FIFA protocol for Marseille-PSG derby

Mandating FIFA's protocol highlights the growing pressure on sports bodies to address discrimination, risking financial and reputational costs.

CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team21 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 90%

UEFA, CONCACAF demand FIFA make $2.1 billion payout to member groups amid funding row

UEFA and CONCACAF chiefs have urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to release around $2.1 billion from the governing body's reserves, calling for each of its 211 member associations to receive $10 million over the 2027-30 cycle. The demand comes amid tensions over Infantino's proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup to private investors, which was shelved after a backlash from European football.

France 24•FRANCE 2418 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 90%

Uefa and Concacaf ask Gianni Infantino to give Fifa’s billions to its member associations

Payout of at least $10m to each association proposed Leaders want plan to be considered by Fifa Council The presidents of Uefa and Concacaf have written to Gianni Infantino requesting that Fifa release money from its $6bn (£4.5bn) reserves to its member associations, stating that the plan to fund them via the doomed Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme was unnecessary given the cash pile it is sitting on. Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani proposed a payout of at least $10m to each of Fifa’s 211 member associations (MAs), initially as a one-off during the 2027-2030 commercial cycle. They called for an independent review of Fifa’s financial position and said their own study “raises an important question as to whether the proposed transaction was necessary to deliver greater resources to the MAs”. Continue reading...

The Guardian•Nick Ames and Matt Hughes18 Sept

• critical toward FIFA · 90%

UEFA, CONCACAF challenge FIFA on reserves and demand $10m payout to members

Confederation chiefs call on Gianni Infantino to make $2.1bn payout to all FIFA's 211 member associations.

Al Jazeera18 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 95%

Uefa & Concacaf demand Fifa pays $10m to all 211 members

Uefa and Concacaf issue a joint statement calling on Fifa to pay $10m from its cash reserves to each of the 211 member associations.

BBC18 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 99%

Gianni Infantino told to give $10m to each of the world's 211 FAs

Gianni Infantino has been told to give an extra $10m (£7.5m) to each of the world's 211 Football Associations (FAs) in a demand from European and North American football chiefs to share out FIFA's wealth, Sky News has learnt.

Sky News18 Sept

FIFA’s Infantino ‘must go, no ifs or buts’, blasts German FA vice president

Hans-Joachim Watzke, one of German football's vice-presidents, adds to list calling for Gianni Infantino's resignation.

Al Jazeera18 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 95%

English FA calls for Infantino to release FIFA World Cup sell-off documents

Gianni Infantino's World Cup selloff plan has faced global backlash with English FA latest to seek document release.

Al Jazeera17 Sept

• neutral toward FIFA · 88%

FIFA Collect surpasses 1 million users after migrating to its own Avalanche-powered blockchain

FIFA's blockchain success highlights the growing importance of digital assets in sports, enhancing fan engagement and revenue streams.

CryptoBriefing•Editorial Team17 Sept

• favorable toward FIFA · 90%