FIFA Governance: Gianni Infantino opens the door to a reform of the decision-making process

Under pressure after abandoning a controversial funding project, Gianni Infantino now wants to open a debate on FIFA's governance. The president of the world governing body is proposing, in particular, an independent review of the decision-making process regarding major strategic directions.

In a letter addressed to the FIFA Council and the presidents of the 211 member associations, Gianni Infantino announced his intention to submit to the Council the idea of an external and independent audit of the current governance framework. The objective would be to identify potential improvements in the way major decisions are made within the organization.

The Italian-Swiss leader also wants to hold consultations with the six continental confederations, member federations, and other stakeholders in world football. Several aspects could be examined, including the distribution of responsibilities between the FIFA President, the Bureau, the Council, and the Congress.

A reform following the controversy over trade rights

This initiative comes at a particularly sensitive time for Infantino. His plan to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights, including those related to the World Cup, to private investors had provoked significant controversy.

Faced with criticism and threats of a boycott, the project was finally withdrawn in July. Several major confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF, then called for an evolution of FIFA's governance.

Infantino maintains, however, that this operation was merely a proposal to explore new sources of funding for football development. According to him, it was in no way intended to challenge FIFA's control over sporting decisions.

The FIFA president particularly regrets that the project was made public before being presented in its entirety to the relevant authorities.

Infantino wants to restore confidence

In his letter, Infantino acknowledges that this situation may have caused concern among several FIFA members. He states that the project had not yet been the subject of a final decision and that, like any major initiative, it required the necessary approvals from the Council and member associations. He also assures that the project has now been definitively abandoned.

The debate now centers on how major strategic decisions should be made within FIFA. Some members want to strengthen the role of the board and build more consensus, while others advocate for more direct involvement from the Congress and national federations.

Infantino says he wants to keep all options open and allow the various stakeholders to present their proposals. The initial proposals could be examined at the Council meeting scheduled for October 15. Other suggestions could also be considered afterward.

However, any amendment to FIFA's statutes must receive the approval of the Congress, the body that brings together the member associations of the world governing body.

As Gianni Infantino prepares to seek re-election in Rabat this March, his opponents are working to strengthen the oversight mechanisms surrounding the presidency. According to sources cited by Reuters, the FIFA president still enjoys sufficient support for his re-election, even though his rivals are struggling to field a strong challenger.

In this context, opening a debate on governance could allow Infantino to respond to criticism while reassuring member federations.

The FIFA president finally reassured everyone that the positions taken by the various associations during this debate would have no impact on their relationship with the world governing body. Development and solidarity programs should, he said, continue in accordance with the existing rules. "The treatment of an association will not depend on its position on any proposal or institutional issue," he stated.

Gianni Infantino thus affirms his desire to continue his work at the head of FIFA while opening the way to a reflection on the evolution of its governance.