Fifa will let council members view documents on Gianni Infantino's botched World Cup sell-off, but only in person

Fifa will allow member associations to inspect documents relating to Gianni Infantino's collapsed plan to sell commercial rights to the World Cup — but only under tightly controlled in-person conditions designed to prevent leaks. UEFA formally requested the disclosure, and Infantino's camp is limiting access to stop sensitive material reaching the press.

The controlled viewing appears designed to head off further embarrassment after it was reportedly revealed that Fifa secretly paid millions of dollars in Infantino's personal taxes.

Member associations wanting to scrutinise the documents will not be permitted to take copies away, a restriction critics say amounts to transparency theatre.

The World Cup rights sell-off was abandoned after widespread opposition from European clubs and national associations who feared losing control of the game's most lucrative asset.