NYON — Uefa have told Fifa they must release key documents and answer all questions relating to governance and decision-making by a deadline of 2 November, increasing pressure on president Gianni Infantino, who has led world football's governing body since 2016 and is standing for re-election for a third time.
At the Fifa Council on Thursday, Infantino apologised for his World Cup sell-off plan but failed to offer a full explanation for how the proposal was devised. In a letter seen by BBC Sport, Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said Fifa had failed to address "a number of fundamental questions". "Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been provided," the letter read.
The letter included eight pages of questions covering issues ranging from the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) private investment to the Fifa Peace Prize and the controversial suspended ban given to USA striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup. Uefa said: "The withdrawal of FFE, the acknowledgement of mistakes and the announcement of 'potential governance reforms' do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the Fifa Council was not involved at the appropriate stage." It added: "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."
Uefa did not outline what steps they intend to take should Fifa not meet the deadline. The questions were first put to Infantino at the Fifa Council last week, and Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt — a Fifa vice-president — said afterwards that "if he doesn't answer those questions, he's not fit to be Fifa president".
Fifa have been approached for comment. Uefa's intervention leaves Infantino facing a fortnight to provide full disclosure on decisions taken without proper Council oversight.