UEFA has intensified its dispute with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding answers to dozens of questions about his leadership, financial decisions and relationship with United States President Donald Trump.
The European football governing body sent a formal letter to FIFA on Monday, October 19, requesting detailed written responses and supporting documents on 42 questions covering 12 areas of concern. The deadline is November 2.
The move follows a meeting of FIFA’s council in Zurich last week, where European representatives said Infantino had failed to provide satisfactory explanations about several controversial decisions.
The dispute has raised fresh questions about transparency and accountability at world football’s governing body ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.
UEFA questions Infantino’s relationship with Trump
One of the central issues in the letter concerns Infantino’s dealings with Trump and people connected to the US president.
UEFA wants FIFA to explain how potential conflicts of interest were assessed and managed in arrangements involving the Trump family and associated business interests.
The letter also raises questions about FIFA’s decision to award Trump its FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC, and how the award was established.
European officials are seeking clarification about the decision-making process and whether the appropriate FIFA bodies were consulted.
The questions do not establish that wrongdoing occurred. Rather, UEFA is demanding documents and explanations to determine how the decisions were reached and whether FIFA’s governance procedures were followed.
Abandoned World Cup investment plan sparks dispute
Another major issue is FIFA Forward Enterprise, an investment proposal that would have involved selling a minority stake in a company managing commercial rights connected to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
The proposal involved potential investment from Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law.
The plan attracted criticism from European football officials, who questioned why FIFA’s council had not been properly consulted before key steps were taken.
Infantino subsequently abandoned the proposal following opposition from several football confederations.
UEFA now wants FIFA to disclose documents explaining how the plan was developed, who authorised negotiations and why an exclusivity arrangement was reportedly granted to Thrive Capital without prior consultation of the full council.
The letter also asks about the financial assumptions behind the proposed investment and why external funding was being considered when FIFA already held substantial financial reserves.
Folarin Balogun’s red-card case under scrutiny
UEFA has also requested an explanation of the decision to suspend the one-match ban imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup.
Trump publicly acknowledged contacting Infantino about the disciplinary matter. UEFA wants FIFA to explain what was discussed, whether the conversation influenced subsequent decisions and what communications took place within FIFA after the call.
The suspension allowed Balogun to play in a subsequent match against Belgium after his red card in the preceding round.
UEFA is seeking the relevant correspondence and records so that the circumstances surrounding the decision can be examined.
The letter raises questions about the independence of FIFA’s disciplinary procedures and whether the established rules were followed. It does not, by itself, prove that the decision was improperly influenced.
FIFA president apologised over communication failures
The latest confrontation follows Infantino’s appearance before the FIFA Council in Zurich, where he apologised for mistakes in communicating and consulting members about the abandoned investment plan.
Infantino maintained that FIFA Forward Enterprise had been a proposal rather than a completed deal. However, some European officials said the apology did not adequately address their underlying concerns.
English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt said Infantino needed to answer the questions raised by council members, while German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf called for fundamental governance reform.
Their criticism reflects a wider disagreement within FIFA over the transparency of its decision-making and the future direction of the organisation.
Other football officials, including representatives from Africa, have defended Infantino, pointing to increased development funding and the expansion of international competitions. His leadership therefore continues to receive support from some member associations despite the opposition from prominent European figures.
Pressure mounts ahead of FIFA presidential election
The November 2 deadline gives FIFA limited time to respond before the next stage of preparations for the March 2027 presidential election.
UEFA is seeking detailed answers and documents rather than assurances that governance reforms may be introduced in the future. European officials argue that the decisions already taken must be examined to establish whether rules were followed and who was responsible.
The controversy could influence discussions among football associations as they consider the leadership and governance of FIFA ahead of the election.
However, Infantino retains support among several member associations, and the outcome of the dispute remains uncertain.
FIFA had not issued an immediate public response to UEFA’s latest demands at the time of reporting.
The coming weeks will be important in determining whether FIFA provides the requested documentation and whether the two organisations can resolve their differences before the presidential election campaign gathers pace.