BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has signalled that the organisation could distribute more money to its 211 member associations from its estimated £4.4 billion cash reserves, as pressure grows over how football’s global governing body uses its financial resources.
In a letter sent to FIFA’s six continental confederations and seen by BBC Sport, Infantino said he would support “the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered”.
The proposal comes after UEFA and Concacaf called for FIFA to distribute $10 million (£7.5 million) to each of its 211 member associations from its reserves. The proposal is expected to be considered by the FIFA Council at its meeting on October 15.
Infantino, however, stopped short of committing to a specific figure, saying, “I will not prejudge the amount.” He added that while “a single figure can begin the discussion”, it could not by itself determine a global funding policy.
The debate over FIFA’s reserves follows the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to raise additional revenue by selling stakes in commercial rights connected to the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.
The plan triggered opposition within the football fraternity, including calls for Infantino to resign, before the proposal was withdrawn. In his latest defence of the initiative, Infantino maintained that its purpose had been to generate additional resources for investment in football.
“The recent commercial proposal, now withdrawn, was intended to enable Fifa to invest more in football,” Infantino wrote.
The controversy has also prompted calls for greater transparency. Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who is also a FIFA vice-president, called on Infantino to release all documents relating to the FFE proposal and urged an independent review of the plan.
The latest funding debate also comes as Infantino prepares to seek another term as FIFA president. He is expected to stand for a fourth term at the election in March 2027, while potential opponents have until November 18 to identify an alternative candidate.
The FIFA Council’s October 15 meeting will therefore provide an important test of how much of the organisation’s reserves could ultimately be made available to its member associations and what funding framework will govern any distribution.
