FIFA announced on Thursday that a review of the withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal will be presented to its Council, following sharp criticism from Danish football chief Jesper Moller over the lack of answers regarding the abandoned project. The controversy underscores growing tensions within world football's governing body.

Last week, Moller accused FIFA of refusing to answer what he called "critical questions" at a Legal Committee meeting about the scrapped proposal, which was launched by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell commercial stakes in tournaments to outside investors. FIFA responded to Reuters by stating that its standing committees advise and assist the Council in line with its statutes and governance regulations, and that a review of the withdrawn proposal will be presented to the Council.

The proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in the World Cup and other FIFA events triggered a global backlash. UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF were among the confederations calling for changes to FIFA's leadership structure, and the possibility of a no-confidence vote against Infantino was even discussed. Several European national associations have since withdrawn support for Infantino's re-election bid, with Greek Football Association President Makis Gagatsis and former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff joining UEFA's push for change on Tuesday, highlighting a united European front.

However, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Infantino retains sufficient backing to secure another term, meaning opponents will need to shift strategy and focus on curbing his powers. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, where Infantino will seek a fourth term in office.

The situation remains fluid, with European associations reportedly planning further moves to challenge Infantino's authority, while the FIFA Council, comprising 37 members including the president, eight vice-presidents, and 28 elected members, will ultimately decide on the review's outcome.

Source: www.aljazeera.com