Fifa to share confidential World Cup sell-off plan documents

What the report says

Fifa has told members of its ruling Council that they will be allowed to inspect selected documents tied to president Gianni Infantino’s abandoned proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. According to BBC Sport, the papers will be made available only in person at Fifa’s Zurich headquarters and under tight confidentiality controls, with council members asked to register within the next two weeks. It was not immediately clear which records would be shared.

The move follows pressure from Uefa, which had given Fifa a deadline to provide details about the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise plan and answer a long list of questions about how it was developed and approved. BBC Sport reports that Infantino had previously apologised for the failed idea but had not fully explained its origins, instead asking for written questions. Uefa has said the issue raises broader concerns about governance and accountability at Fifa.

BBC Sport also reported that Fifa considered the deadline difficult to meet because of other commitments, including work on a new youth World Cup in Azerbaijan and preparations for an extraordinary congress. Sources cited by the broadcaster said Fifa’s response may also be constrained by related legal action Uefa has launched in the United States, seeking disclosure of evidence and documents. The dispute comes at a politically sensitive moment ahead of next year’s Fifa presidential election.