Uefa and Concacaf have written to Gianni Infantino calling on Fifa to pay at least $10m (\u00a37.5m) from its cash reserves to each of the 211 member associations.<\/p>\n
It is the latest chapter in the war of words between the governing bodies, in response to Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s aborted private equity proposal.<\/p>\n
Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to an investment company.<\/p>\n
The idea was scrapped after four days following widespread opposition from national associations.<\/p>\n
The letter, seen by BBC Sport, was signed by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and his Concacaf counterpart Victor Montagliani.<\/p>\n
It outlines that “Fifa is on course to close 2023-26 with reserves of approximately $6bn (\u00a34.5bn)” which is “considerably more than is required” through to the 2030 men’s World Cup.<\/p>\n
It said that Fifa should “make at least $10m available to each of its 211 member associations over the 2027-30 cycle” which should be used “for investment in infrastructure and football development”.<\/p>\n
This “one-off release of reserves” would come at a cost of $2.11bn (\u00a31.57bn), and would be in addition to the regular funding in the cycle. <\/p>\n
When the controversial plan was revealed in the days following the World Cup final, Infantino told members they would receive $40m (\u00a330m) if they backed it. <\/p>\n
Infantino set a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m (\u00a315m).<\/p>\n
In the letter, Ceferin and Montagliani said analysis carried out on Fifa’s published financial statements and budgets raised doubts that the FFE proposal was “necessary to deliver greater resources”.<\/p>\n
It added that the analysis was “deliberately conservative” and a larger distribution from the reserves should be considered by the Fifa Council once the financial position at year-end is known.<\/p>\n
An “independent review” of Fifa’s finances should be commissioned, it added, with “full access to the underlying figures and assumptions”.<\/p>\n
“Fifa currently holds billions of dollars in accumulated reserves,” it read. “These resources belong to football and exist to serve the game and its 211 member associations. <\/p>\n
“Prudence should not prevent a careful examination of whether a portion could responsibly be released to the extent those reserves exceed Fifa’s foreseeable needs.<\/p>\n
“Releasing part of these reserves would demonstrate that member associations should not have to choose between development and good governance; between investment and integrity; or between financial support and the ability to consider proposals on their merits.<\/p>\n
“Development is an institutional responsibility of Fifa \u2013 not a matter of individual discretion.”<\/p>\n
Another letter, also seen by BBC Sport, has been sent to the presidents of the other confederations – Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania – asking them to support the motion.<\/p>\n
The news comes a day after Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt sent a letter to Infantino and Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom demanding that all documents relating to the controversial FFE plan were released.<\/a><\/p>\n Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, said that the Fifa Council should also receive a written explanation for the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.<\/p>\n Infantino was told he should make all documents available before the next Fifa Council meeting, which is on 15 October.<\/p>\n