Global players’ union Fifpro has backed calls for an independent review of FIFA’s governance after the strong backlash over a controversial private investment plan linked to the World Cup.

Questions continue to surround FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the way he handled the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. Under that plan, private investors would have taken a 20 per cent stake in a business responsible for managing the commercial operations of FIFA events, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.

The proposal was abandoned after it was rejected by three continental confederations, including European governing body UEFA, which had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions unless the plan was withdrawn and guarantees were given that no similar move would be made again.

On 27 August, UEFA lifted its boycott threat but said it was working to put forward a credible alternative candidate to challenge Infantino for the presidency at next year’s Congress, saying it had “lost confidence” in him. UEFA also asked for an independent review into the decision-making process behind FFE.

Fifpro and Fifpro Europe supported that demand on Monday “so that no single office can act unilaterally again”.

The union also called for the formal inclusion of representatives of players, clubs and leagues within the decision-making structure of the FIFA Council.

FIFA said on 5 August that it would review the FFE process, although it did not specify who would carry out that review. It also appeared to pre-judge the outcome by saying in its announcement that “everything that was done was done in full compliance with the FIFA regulatory framework”.

A report published by Fifpro on Monday explained how football’s financial value is generated, saying this showed why “the infrastructure underpinning football’s global workforce cannot be treated as a sellable and undervalued asset”.

FIFA valued FFE at $20 billion (£14.84 billion) on 28 July. UEFA later described that valuation as “fraudulently off-market” in filings submitted to an American court while seeking disclosure of documents related to the proposal.

Despite calls for Infantino to step down, FIFA confirmed earlier this month that he intends to stand in next year’s election as he bids for a fourth term as president.