Uefa demands Fifa releases documents relating to World Cup sell-off scheme

European governing body gives two-week deadline

Letter addresses other issues including Balogun affair

A letter sent to Fifa’s general secretary, Mattias Grafström, by his counterpart at Uefa, Theodore ­Theodoridis, is accompanied by an eight-page document that has more than 50 questions about Fifa’s ­handling of dozens of issues over the past 12 months. These include the proposed sale of 20% of its commercial rights, the Folarin Balogun affair, the peace prize and relations with Donald Trump and the arrangements for next year’s Fifa presidential election. Uefa’s document also makes a number of allegations about potential conflicts of interests at Fifa, as well as repeating calls for a “genuinely independent” governance review.

In a letter sent on Monday, ­Theodoridis wrote: “These explanations have not begun ­satisfactorily to address a number of ­fundamental questions raised by Council members.

“Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided.

“Following the invitation made during the meeting to submit our questions in writing, we therefore enclose a consolidated set of questions and requests for information.

“We formally request a substantive written response to each question, together with all ­supporting ­documentation by Monday 2nd November. Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon.

“These questions require answers now. They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the Fifa Council – nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them.”

The accompanying document and list of supplementary questions constitutes a damning takedown of Fifa’s leadership under Infantino, who, as it stands, is on course to be re-elected unopposed as president next year, although Uefa is increasingly hopeful of identifying a candidate to take him on before nominations close on 18 November.

“A series of decisions, transactions and interventions involving the Fifa President, the President of the United States and individuals associated with him raise serious questions concerning potential conflicts of interest, transparency and institutional accountability,” Uefa states.

The amount Fifa is paying to rent office space in Trump Tower is also queried, as is a report in the Times last week that Infantino in 2024 “received substantial additional remuneration which was not disclosed in Fifa’s annual report”. Fifa has said it “does not pay a second salary to the Fifa president and complies with all reporting requirements in relation to compensation”.