UEFA is increasing the pressure on Gianni Infantino and has sent FIFA an urgent letter demanding answers to 42 detailed questions about his presidency. The letter, which has been seen by Sky Sports News, was written on Monday by UEFA secretary general Theodore Theodoridis and sent to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom. Sky Sports News has also obtained a copy of the full list of 42 questions which cover 12 topics, including 10 alleged conflicts of interest, across eight pages.
Theodoridis gives FIFA two weeks to respond to UEFA's long list of concerns which were raised by European football leaders at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last Thursday. He begins by noting that Infantino acknowledged during the meeting that mistakes had been made but the explanations provided "have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions". UEFA has also asked for an immediate audio recording of the meeting in another sign it is demanding full transparency from FIFA.
"These questions require answers now," Theodoridis writes. "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 42 questions are split into 12 sections: 1. FIFA Forward Enterprise - the World Cup sell-off proposal.
Why did Infantino negotiate to sell off a stake in FIFA tournaments in secret? "Could FIFA explain why an agreement granting exclusivity to Thrive Capital was signed without prior consultation of the FIFA Council? Who authorised FIFA to enter into this agreement, and on what basis?
"Why was the FIFA Council not consulted before exclusivity was granted, irrespective of any approval that may have been envisaged at a later stage? "Could FIFA also confirm who the members of the Management Board Bureau were at the time of the decision and how each of them voted, specifying who voted in favour, who voted against and who abstained? "When was it intended that the FFE proposal and supporting documentation would be submitted to the FIFA Council?" 2.
Will investigation into FIFA governance be independent and why is FIFA blocking release of documents? "How does FIFA intend to establish what actually happened in relation to FFE, the Balogun case and the other matters raised by members of the Council, and to ensure appropriate accountability for any shortcomings identified?" 3. Review of funding of FIFA's member associations.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
