English FA Calls For Infantino To Release FIFA World Cup Sell-Off Documents

Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to release documents relating to the abandoned proposal to sell a commercial stake in the World Cup to private investors. Hewitt is also seeking information about the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban and has called for an independent review of both matters.

The Football Association has stepped up its calls for transparency within FIFA after FA chair Debbie Hewitt formally requested the release of documents relating to Gianni Infantino's abandoned plan to sell a stake in the commercial side of the World Cup.

Hewitt, who is also a FIFA vice-president and member of the FIFA Council, wrote to Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström seeking access to information and communications surrounding the proposal. The request comes ahead of the next FIFA Council meeting, scheduled for 15 October in Zurich.

Hewitt Demands Full Disclosure

Hewitt is seeking the release of the documents and communications connected to the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which was designed to bring private investment into the commercial operation of FIFA's major tournaments.

The plan attracted opposition from several football governing bodies and was eventually abandoned. FIFA has said a review of the shelved proposal will be presented to its Council, but the organisation has not publicly identified who is conducting that review.

What Was The World Cup Proposal?

The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise was intended to create a new commercial structure for tournament-related assets, including competitions such as the men's and women's World Cups.

Reports said the proposed venture would have involved selling a minority stake to private investors. The plan became public in July and quickly generated concerns among football administrators, particularly over how such a major commercial decision had been developed without wider FIFA Council involvement.

FIFA Council Members Seek Answers

The FIFA Council acts as the governing body's board between Congress meetings, making the lack of information surrounding the proposal a significant issue for members seeking clarification.

According to reporting by The Guardian and The Times, Hewitt's letter expresses disappointment that Infantino had not engaged with the Council since withdrawing the proposal and argues that an independent review should examine how the plan was developed and communicated.

FIFA previously acknowledged shortcomings in the handling of the proposal, with Infantino apologising for mistakes in the process before the plan was withdrawn.

Balogun Case Adds Another Layer

Hewitt's request also extends beyond the commercial proposal.

She has asked for documents relating to FIFA's decision to suspend the one-match ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup.

Balogun had originally been expected to miss the United States' last-16 meeting with Belgium, but FIFA suspended the ban, allowing him to play. The decision attracted further scrutiny after US President Donald Trump acknowledged that he had contacted Infantino about the red card.

Questions Over Transparency Continue

The two controversies have become part of a wider debate about FIFA's governance and decision-making processes.

UEFA has publicly said it has lost confidence in Infantino and has pursued legal avenues in the United States seeking disclosure of documents connected with the abandoned investment proposal. FIFA, meanwhile, has maintained that the proposal was withdrawn and that a review would take place.

The distinction is important: calls for an independent investigation and disclosure of documents are requests for scrutiny, rather than proof that wrongdoing has been established.

Infantino Faces Continued Pressure

The latest development comes as Infantino prepares for another FIFA presidential election campaign.

He has confirmed his intention to seek re-election, while criticism from parts of European football has intensified following the fallout from the World Cup commercial proposal and the Balogun case. At the same time, Infantino continues to retain significant support in several regions of world football.

The FIFA Council's October meeting could therefore become an important opportunity for members to seek answers directly from the organisation's leadership.

FA Seeks Clarity Before October Meeting

Hewitt's intervention puts the English FA directly into the growing debate over FIFA's handling of the abandoned World Cup investment plan.

Her demand is centred on access to the information needed to understand how the proposal was developed, why FIFA's wider leadership structure was not fully informed earlier, and how the decision to suspend Balogun's ban was reached.

With FIFA's review expected to be presented to the Council and further scrutiny already under way, the coming weeks could provide a clearer picture of the decisions and communications behind two of the most controversial issues to emerge from the 2026 World Cup.