October 21: UEFA has raised electoral concerns over the role of FIFA chief Bruno Chiomento.
In the letter UEFA sent to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström earlier this week, the European governing body questioned Chiomento’s independence as FIFA’s election committee chairman.
UEFA wrote: “We understand that Mr Chiomento has known the President of FIFA for approximately 20 years and is regularly invited to FIFA events and competitions at FIFA’s expense. We also understand that he attended the entire 2026 World Cup as an accredited person, with his expenses covered by FIFA for more than five weeks. Could FIFA confirm these circumstances and explain how potential conflicts of interest have been assessed and dealt with? Given the importance of ensuring the independence and perceived impartiality of the electoral process, FIFA would consider the recusal of Mr. Chiomento and the replacement by his deputy during the duration of the presidential elections?
Chiomento chairs FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC), one of FIFA’s four independent bodies. He also chairs the review committee and the compensation subcommittee, which sets the president’s compensation. Both committees are part of the GACC. As chairman of the GACC, Chiomento receives CHF 250,000 in compensation.
However, his independence has come under increasing scrutiny following his attendance at FIFA events. Chiomento also attended the World Cup draw in Washington DC last December and the Olympic soccer tournament in Paris. He then declined to comment when asked if FIFA covered his expenses.
UEFA’s concerns are part of wider scrutiny of FIFA’s electoral integrity and the independence of FIFA’s judicial bodies. Next year, FIFA will hold a presidential election at its annual congress in Rabat, Morocco, where Gianni Infantino will seek re-election despite causing FIFA’s biggest crisis since FIFAGate in 2015 by trying to sell World Cup commercial rights.
The European governing body also pointed to the role of general secretary Grafstrom and the FIFA administration after Grafstrom backed Infantino following a crisis meeting in Rabat.
UEFA asked: “How can such an explicit statement of support during the official election period be reconciled with the administration’s duty of neutrality, including the obligations imposed on FIFA staff under the applicable Code of Conduct?”
In the letter, UEFA pointed to FIFA’s ethics committee, and wrote that “we understand that the president of the Arbitration Chamber, Ms. Rojas, has publicly acknowledged personal friendships with the former president of the Colombian Football Association, Mr. (Luis) Bedoya, and its current president, Mr. Ramon Jesusone Given the Colombian Football Association’s support for the FIFA president, could FIFA explain how potential concerns about its independence and impartiality have been assessed, and whether it would recuse itself from proceedings involving the FIFA president when appropriate?
The investigation chamber of the ethics committee is chaired by Rwandan Martin Ngoga, a close ally of Paul Kagame. During his reign, Infantino has maintained strong ties with Rwanda’s autocratic head of state.
See: UEFA questions highlight Infantino’s ‘armed’ FIFA judiciary and protection of key African allies
Contact the writer of this story at (email protected)