Fifa Withholds Key Documents Amid Uefa Legal Pressure

Fifa Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom informed council members they can view critical documents in person at Fifa headquarters in Zurich. Grafstrom claims this measure preserves confidentiality.

Uefa's formal letter demanded clarity on 42 areas of concern. It questioned why Fifa awarded exclusivity to Thrive Capital, an investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of United States President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

The request also sought documentation regarding the Folarin Balogun disciplinary case and explanations for potential conflicts of interest. Uefa specified substantive responses by 2 November.

As of midday Central European Time on Monday, Uefa had received no response.

Fifa views Uefa's two-week deadline to respond to over 100 questions as unfeasible. The organization cites commitments to organizing the inaugural Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan and preparing for an extraordinary Fifa Congress on November 23 to appoint hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups.

Uefa, however, maintains that answers are needed immediately. "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 stated.

The communication from Uefa followed a Fifa Council session on 15 October where Infantino faced questioning. Fifa claims a wider response to Uefa's October 19 letter will come to Council members in due course, with the Fifa Council scheduled to meet again on 16 December.

Separately, Uefa committed to identifying a credible alternative candidate to challenge Infantino in the Fifa presidential election next March. The deadline for submitting candidacies for the Fifa presidential election is 18 November.