Football: The latest on Infantino and FIFA
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that UEFA, the Governing Body of European Football, has informed FIFA that it must release key documents relating to its governance and decision-making by 2 November 2026.
At the meeting of the FIFA Council on 15 October 2026, the President, Gianni Infantino, apologised for his World Cup sell-off proposal, but failed to release any of the documents relating to it.
In a letter to FIFA, Theodore Theodoridis, the General Secretary of UEFA stated that:
"Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon."
UEFA also sent an eight-page document to FIFA, in which a number of concerns were expressed.
These included the FIFA Forward Enterprise private investment proposal, the FIFA Peace Prize, and the Folarin Balogun suspended ban during the recent FIFA Men’s World Cup.
UEFA did not, however, indicate what steps it intended to take in the event of FIFA failing to meet the deadline.
The chairperson of the English Football Association, Debbie Hewit, who is also a Vice-President of FIFA, remarked that:
"If he doesn't answer those questions, he's not fit to be FIFA President."
The pressure continues apace!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
