Anter Isaac holds off on Infantino endorsement amid FIFA governance dispute

Football Australia chair Anter Isaac has declined to say whether he will support Gianni Infantino at next year's FIFA presidential election, while playing down the turmoil surrounding the governing body. The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Isaac considered an endorsement premature as Asian football officials prepared to gather in Tokyo.

Speaking earlier this month on Beyond the Game with Dillon and Rafael, Isaac suggested FIFA's administrative systems might not have kept pace with its revenue growth. He characterised the difficulties as organisational growing pains and said disagreements could concern communication and approach, rather than the motivations of those involved.

Isaac said insiders had information unavailable to outside critics and pointed to football institutions' work supporting stakeholders. He also welcomed efforts to examine procedures and formalise improvements. Football Australia's August response to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project had demanded credible action without seeking Infantino's resignation, the Guardian reported.

Separately, the Guardian reported on Monday that UEFA had set a 2 November deadline for FIFA to provide written answers and supporting documents on governance matters. UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis sent the request to FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom, accompanied by an eight-page document containing more than 50 questions. The request covers the proposed sale of 20% of FIFA's commercial rights and other decisions.

The European body's intervention followed a FIFA council meeting in Zurich. According to that report, Infantino heard questions but did not provide substantive answers, instead asking council members to submit them in writing before the next meeting in Doha on 16 December. UEFA's letter argued that outstanding requests for information should be answered before that meeting rather than deferred until then.

UEFA also repeated its demand for an independent governance review. Its questions extend to arrangements for the presidential election and decision-making around the men's World Cup, including the switch of the draw from Las Vegas to Washington DC. The Guardian said it had contacted FIFA for comment on the letter.