Global football governing body FIFA has accused European counterpart UEFA of conducting a coordinated smear campaign amid a widening legal battle in United States courts, according to Anews. The dispute centers on an abandoned plan by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell a stake in the organization’s commercial operations and tournaments.
FIFA Fights Back in US Courts Over Abandoned $4.2 Billion World Cup Stake Deal
The controversy involves the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial entity through which FIFA considered selling private investors a 20% stake in its event operations for $4.2 billion, as reported by The Athletic. The plan would have transferred commercial rights linked to the men’s and women’s World Cups, as well as the Club World Cup, to FFE. Thrive Capital Management, an investment firm run by Joshua Kushner, was lined up as a prospective lead investor alongside partners including JPMorgan and Bann Ventures. However, FIFA withdrew the proposal on August 1 following intense pushback from national associations and confederations, which included threats of a boycott from European national teams.
Legal Battle Across US Courts and Planned Swiss Proceedings
Following the collapse of the investment plan, UEFA filed legal applications in three U.S. states—New York, Colorado, and Florida—seeking to compel the disclosure of documents and testimony from FIFA, Infantino, and project partners, including Livemint. UEFA stated that it intends to use the gathered evidence in preparation for potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Infantino for alleged criminal mismanagement.
UEFA lawyers alleged in court documents that Infantino promoted a fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit and described the valuation as absurdly low. In response, FIFA filed motions in U.S. courts asking judges to defer decisions on UEFA’s requests or reject them altogether.
In its legal filings, FIFA argued that UEFA’s actions are meritless and defective. FIFA stated in court documents highlighted by Mathrubhumi that while those applications were styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they were little more than press releases intended to further support UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership. Furthermore, FIFA asserted that UEFA is seeking discovery to aid a foreign criminal proceeding that does not currently exist and which UEFA lacks the legal authority to initiate.
Broader Political Friction and Stakes for Infantino’s Future
The legal clash underscores a deeper political rift within international football. FIFA alleged in its filings that UEFA opposed the FFE proposal for economic motives, aiming to prevent smaller football nations from gaining the financial strength necessary to challenge Europe’s dominance. According to FIFA, strengthening soccer in developing regions would increase global competition, erode UEFA’s market power, and challenge its flagship tournaments.
The fallout has also placed mounting political pressure on Infantino, who is a candidate for a fourth term in an upcoming election. Alongside UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, representing North and Central America and the Caribbean, have criticized the current leadership and discussed potential moves against Infantino, who retains backing from African and South American confederations.
