Infantino faces pressure to release World Cup sell-off documents

Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has reportedly demanded that Fifa president Gianni Infantino release all relevant documents relating to his controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup in a crucial letter sent to the governing body.

The letter was also sent to Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom citing mismanagement, failures in governance and a systematic cultural failure within the world football’s governing body.

Infantino has been facing intense pressure over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. FFE would have a commercial value as a vehicle to manage commercial and comprehensive ticketing inventory including World Cups with 21% sold off to a private investment company.

The Football Association was troubled by the Balogun situation from the outset and had petitioned for the disclosure of his exoneration records during the World Cup.

Fifa and Infantino were accused of breaking trust in an open letter issued by Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation last month. Most importantly, many national associations including those of England, Wales and Scotland have withdrawn support for Infantino’s re-election. 

But Infantino still received high praise and backing around the globe with the confederations of Africa, South America and Oceania reaffirming their support. All eyes are on next month when Infantino must face Hewitt and the other 35 Fifa Council members.