UEFA has asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to answer 42 questions concerning the proposed sale of part of the World Cup’s commercial rights, the cancellation of a red card issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun, and the decision to introduce a FIFA Peace Prize and award it to US President Donald Trump. The European governing body has set a deadline of November 2 for written answers and supporting documents.

On October 19, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis sent a letter to FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafström outlining what he described as serious concerns about the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and other aspects of FIFA’s governance and decision-making. ESPN has reported seeing the letter.

Questions Over the World Cup Rights Proposal

Infantino had planned to raise funds by selling part of the World Cup’s commercial rights to Thrive Capital, the investment firm led by Josh Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

The proposal triggered strong opposition from UEFA, which threatened to boycott FIFA competitions after learning of the plan. UEFA was concerned that the initiative had been pursued without proper consultation with the FIFA Council.

According to ESPN, UEFA wants to know who granted Thrive Capital exclusive advantages and when, and through whom, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was first proposed. The letter also seeks an explanation of how the proposal was developed and advanced.

UEFA withdrew its boycott threat after Infantino reportedly assured the organisation that he would abandon the plan. However, the dispute has continued to strain relations over Infantino’s leadership and his bid for re-election in 2027.

Balogun’s Red Card and the FIFA Peace Prize

UEFA has also sought clarification over the process behind the cancellation of a red card issued to US forward Folarin Balogun at the most recent World Cup. The questions reportedly include whether Trump made any request to Infantino during a telephone conversation concerning the decision.

Another major issue is FIFA’s decision to establish a Peace Prize and award it to Trump. UEFA wants to understand how the initiative was developed and how the decision was reached.

The questions reflect broader concerns about transparency, accountability and whether established institutional procedures were followed when FIFA made major decisions.

Written Responses Required by November 2

In the letter, UEFA said it had compiled a consolidated list of questions and requests for information after being invited to submit them in writing at a meeting. The organisation formally requested factual written responses to every question, together with all supporting documentation, by Monday, November 2.

At a FIFA Council meeting last Thursday, Infantino apologised over the proposed sale of part of the World Cup’s commercial rights. However, according to the report, he did not provide a detailed explanation of how the proposal had originated or how the decision-making process had unfolded.

Pressure Ahead of the 2027 FIFA Presidential Election

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027. Although nominations are due by November 18, no challenger to Infantino has emerged so far.

UEFA’s 42-question letter could nevertheless intensify scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership ahead of the election. The issues under review—from World Cup commercial rights to disciplinary decisions and the recognition of political figures—raise significant questions about FIFA’s governance.

With the November 2 deadline approaching, attention will now turn to FIFA’s written responses and whether they adequately address UEFA’s concerns.