UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani have formally requested a full independent review of FIFA’s financial position. The request, made in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday, comes ahead of a scheduled meeting in Zurich on October 15. The two officials, who serve as FIFA vice presidents, said the review would help determine how much money can be responsibly distributed to member associations.
The letter also proposes that each of FIFA’s 211 member associations receive an additional $10 million from the organization’s growing cash reserves. According to the letter, FIFA’s cash reserves are expected to reach $6 billion after the World Cup, and the federation could afford a one-time distribution totaling $2.1 billion to member associations.
Context of the Request
The move is part of a broader effort by Čeferin and Montagliani to remove Infantino from office. The two vice presidents have intensified their efforts amid Infantino’s attempt to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors. They aim to oust the FIFA president either before or during the presidential election scheduled for next March.
In July, the two officials led a widespread global campaign against Infantino’s plan to sell World Cup shares to investors, a group reportedly led by Joshua Kushner. The Friday letter appears intended to reassure FIFA members that additional funding will be available even if Infantino leaves the position he has held since 2016.
Proposed Distribution and Existing Commitments
The proposal to grant $10 million per national association is a direct response to Infantino’s earlier offer of $20 million per federation to support his ultimately failed project. The letter emphasized that the $20 million per association already pledged by FIFA through 2030 will continue in full as previously committed.
Čeferin and Montagliani are expected to be key figures at next month’s FIFA Council meeting. It will be the first council meeting since media reports in late July revealed Infantino’s confidential plan for private investment.
Legal Steps
UEFA has asked courts in Manhattan and Florida to allow it to obtain evidence from Kushner’s investment firm and from FIFA. This is a preliminary step toward a possible criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland regarding what may constitute financial mismanagement.