English Football Association Chair Debbie Hewitt has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to release all documentation concerning an abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. The proposal faced global backlash from national associations and continental bodies after emerging in the wake of the tournament.
FA Chair Demands Document Release Ahead of FIFA Council Meeting
Debbie Hewitt, who serves as both English FA chair and a FIFA vice-president, wrote to Gianni Infantino demanding full disclosure of all information related to the private investor scheme before the FIFA Council meets on October 15. Infantino apologized for the handling of the private investor process in August, and a statement from FIFA’s management board promised a review. However, FIFA has not confirmed who is leading that investigation.
In addition to the investor files, Hewitt requested the release of documents regarding the suspension of a one-match ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. Balogun received a straight red card during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina and was expected to miss the round-of-16 game against Belgium. FIFA subsequently suspended the automatic ban for a year without providing detailed reasoning beyond citing applicable rules. United States President Donald Trump later confirmed that he called Infantino to ask for a review of the striker’s ban.
UEFA and Confederations Push for Accountability and Governance Changes
The sequence of events fractured relationships within global football governance, drawing sharp criticism from continental bodies. UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation issued an open letter accusing FIFA and Infantino of breaking trust through deception regarding the private equity proposal. UEFA stated that it has lost confidence in Infantino and pursued legal applications in the United States court system to secure document disclosure related to the private investor plan.
The geopolitical split among FIFA’s 211 member associations remains stark. While numerous national associations across Europe—including those of England, Wales, and Scotland—withdrew their letters of support for Infantino’s re-election following the controversies, Infantino retains substantial backing from member associations in Africa, South America, and Oceania. Infantino confirmed his intention to run for re-election earlier this month, with November 18 set as the final deadline for opposing candidates to submit their bids ahead of the FIFA Congress in March.
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