UEFA has stepped up its fight with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, moving towards possible criminal proceedings in Switzerland over a controversial plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s commercial operations.
The development follows legal filings made by UEFA in the United States as the European football body seeks access to documents and evidence linked to the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project.
The proposed scheme involved creating a new FIFA subsidiary that would manage commercial rights connected to major competitions, including the World Cup. Private investors were expected to acquire a 20 per cent stake for about $4.2bn.
One of the main investors linked to the proposal was Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner. UEFA is seeking documents from the company as part of its efforts to examine how the deal was developed and valued.
According to UEFA’s legal filing, the organisation and its lawyers are considering a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials over what they describe as possible “criminal mismanagement.”
UEFA has questioned how the proposed $4.2bn investment was arrived at, arguing that the valuation of the commercial operation was not properly tested through an open or competitive process. The filing alleges that the proposed price could have significantly undervalued FIFA’s commercial assets.
The controversy has its roots in Infantino’s attempt to attract private investment into FIFA’s competitions. The proposal faced strong opposition from several football organisations and national associations, with concerns about transparency, governance and the future control of football’s biggest competitions.
The pressure eventually forced FIFA to abandon the plan on August 1, but the decision did not end the dispute. UEFA has continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the proposal and is now seeking information that could support a possible case in Switzerland.
The latest legal move represents a major escalation in the already tense relationship between UEFA and Infantino. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has previously criticised the failed investment plan and compared it unfavourably with the controversial European Super League proposal.
The dispute could also have wider consequences for FIFA’s leadership. Infantino is seeking another term as FIFA president, with the next presidential election scheduled for March 2027, meaning the growing disagreement with UEFA could become an important issue ahead of the election.
For now, no court has found Infantino guilty of any offence. UEFA’s actions are part of an effort to obtain evidence and determine whether there is a basis for criminal proceedings.
The latest development leaves FIFA facing renewed scrutiny over how its commercial assets are managed, while Infantino’s leadership faces one of its strongest challenges since he became FIFA president in 2016.