FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a letter to the members of the organization's Council and the heads of all 211 national associations, proposing to consider an independent external review of FIFA's governance system. The initiative came amid widespread criticism following the failure of the commercial project FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which envisaged the creation of a separate company to manage the commercial and operational rights of tournaments under the organization's umbrella. According to Infantino's plan, the independent process should identify potential changes and ways to improve FIFA's operations.
The essence of the proposal: external audit and stakeholder consultations
In addition to the external review, the organization's president proposed holding consultations with confederations, national associations and other stakeholders on strengthening the decision-making process. Among the possible topics for discussion are the role of the FIFA president himself, as well as practical ways to enhance transparency, participation and accountability in the implementation of key strategic initiatives. Infantino emphasized that he remains committed to leading FIFA and is confident in continued joint work.
The failure of FIFA Forward Enterprise as a trigger for reform
The FFE project faced significant resistance from national associations and was ultimately withdrawn. FIFA had previously stated that FFE did not involve transferring control over football decisions and was to be implemented only with the approval of a majority of the 211 national associations and the FIFA Council. However, as Infantino himself noted in his letter, the FFE proposal was made public before the completion of the planned institutional procedure, creating the impression that decisions had already been made. After the abandonment of FFE, the organization acknowledged the need to improve its internal processes: following a preliminary review, a report is to be submitted to the FIFA Council.
"Democratic processes are not for sale": Infantino's stance
In the letter, the FIFA president stated that the organization's democratic processes, independence and sporting powers "have never been and will not be a subject of sale." This statement can be seen as a direct response to the growing wave of criticism from European football structures, which in recent months have been actively discussing the question of changing the organization's leadership and reviewing its management model.
Political context: the 2027 elections and a fourth term
Gianni Infantino was elected FIFA president in 2016, and in March 2023 he was re-elected for a third term. The next election of the organization's president is scheduled for March 2027, and, according to available information, Infantino intends to run for a fourth term. Thus, the independent review he proposed could serve both as a tool to strengthen legitimacy before the vote and as a way to neutralize the pressure that has been intensifying in recent months from a number of European leagues and associations.
External pressure: criticism from the Premier League
Against the backdrop of Infantino's initiative, it is worth noting that the executive director of the English Premier League previously publicly stated that the head of FIFA should leave his post. This remark became part of a broader campaign of criticism aimed at reviewing the structure and governance of FIFA. Under these circumstances, the proposal for an independent external review looks like an attempt by Infantino to seize the initiative and demonstrate readiness for reform before it is imposed through pressure from European football institutions.
