FIFA says it will answer UEFA’s questions about Infantino, without committing to November 2

FIFA said on October 20 that it intends to answer questions from European members of its Council about President Gianni Infantino’s governance, but did not say whether it would meet UEFA’s November 2 deadline. The response follows a letter seeking answers about a withdrawn World Cup investment proposal and other decisions, as the deadline for candidates in next year’s FIFA presidential election approaches.

A FIFA spokesperson said Council meetings and related documents are confidential under FIFA’s governance regulations. FIFA intends to reply to questions submitted by Council members, the spokesperson said, but would not discuss internal communications with the media. The statement gave no date for its reply.

What UEFA asked FIFA to explain

The questions covered Infantino’s abandoned proposal to sell a stake in a company handling World Cup commercial rights. UEFA also raised issues involving US President Donald Trump’s influence on FIFA business, a red card shown to US player Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup, the World Cup final half-time show and hydration breaks, according to the Press Association report carried by Yahoo Sports. The Korea Herald reported that the letter also asked about the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Trump.

In a passage quoted by The Korea Herald, UEFA said withdrawing the commercial-rights proposal, acknowledging mistakes and announcing possible governance reforms did not explain how the decisions were made or why the Council had not been involved sooner. Infantino apologized for the proposal at an October 15 Council meeting in Zurich, the Herald reported.

Why the timing matters for FIFA’s election

The November 2 date is 16 days before the deadline to declare a candidacy for the FIFA presidency. UEFA has said it will identify a credible challenger to Infantino after losing confidence in his handling of the investor proposal, according to the Press Association report. UEFA’s letter also questioned the independence of the election process, asking whether electoral committee chair Bruno Chiomento should step aside for his deputy during the vote. The letter cited his long acquaintance with Infantino and FIFA’s coverage of his expenses during the World Cup.

European delegates raised their concerns with Infantino at a Council meeting in Zurich before putting them in writing, the Press Association reported. The next Council meeting is scheduled for December 16, after both UEFA’s requested response date and the candidacy deadline. UEFA did not specify what it would do if FIFA missed November 2, according to The Korea Herald.