Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed consultations with the organisation’s 211 member associations and other stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen its decision-making processes.

Infantino made the proposal in a letter addressed to the FIFA Council and heads of all member associations on Monday, following mounting scrutiny over his leadership and a now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into FIFA’s commercial operations.

The FIFA president said he would ask the Council to consider commissioning an independent external review of the governing body’s framework for handling major strategic initiatives.

He also proposed a direct, structured and time-limited consultation involving the confederations, member associations and other relevant stakeholders.

According to Infantino, the consultation would examine the respective roles of the FIFA President, Bureau, Council and Congress in major decisions.

It would also consider ways to improve transparency, participation and accountability when strategic initiatives are developed.

The proposals follow the backlash that greeted FIFA’s FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which would have involved selling a minority stake in a company managing commercial rights connected to major competitions, including the World Cup.

The plan was withdrawn in July after opposition from several football confederations and threats of a boycott.

Infantino said the proposal had not involved surrendering FIFA’s authority over sporting decisions and maintained that it had been presented prematurely before the organisation’s institutional processes were completed.

He acknowledged that the manner in which the proposal became public created concern and the impression that decisions had already been taken.

Infantino said major initiatives should be developed and communicated through institutions that stakeholders trust.

He has also faced calls for changes to FIFA’s leadership from some football bodies, while others, including the Confederation of African Football and South American football authorities, have expressed support for his leadership.

The FIFA Council is expected to consider initial proposals from the consultation at its meeting scheduled for October 15.

Any changes to FIFA’s statutes would ultimately require approval by the FIFA Congress.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, has confirmed that he will seek another term as president at next year’s election in Rabat.

The proposed consultation comes as FIFA prepares for that election and continues discussions over how major strategic and commercial decisions should be handled within the organisation.