Zurich, 17 October, 2026 (Ghufran): FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing criticism from European football officials over a controversial $4.2 billion project amid concerns about a lack of transparency and inadequate consultation. Infantino has apologised for shortcomings in the consultation process, but European officials remain dissatisfied with the failure to provide clear explanations and relevant documentation. The proposed project involved giving private investors a stake in the commercial rights of football competitions and was abandoned in July following strong opposition. English Football Association Chair Debbie Hewitt said Infantino must answer the questions raised, warning that failure to provide satisfactory explanations could lead to further scrutiny of his presidency. FIFA officials have also been asked to clarify the decision to overturn the suspension of American footballer Folarin Balogun and the decision to award US President Donald Trump FIFA’s Peace Prize. The controversy has emerged ahead of FIFA’s presidential election scheduled for March 2027 in Morocco, adding to scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and the organisation’s decision-making processes.