FIFA-UEFA Feud Intensifies As Infantino Faces ‘Smear Campaign’ Charge

A proposed $4.2 billion investment deal involving FIFA’s most valuable competitions has escalated into a legal battle between world football’s governing body and UEFA, with FIFA accusing the European governing body of running a “smear campaign” against president Gianni Infantino.

The latest confrontation unfolded Thursday in a filing before the US District Court in Colorado, where FIFA sought to intervene in UEFA’s discovery proceedings. FIFA argued that UEFA’s requests for documents should either be postponed or dismissed.

“While these applications are styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they are little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said in the filing, according to ESPN.

What is the dispute about?

The dispute centres on FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposal to sell private-equity stakes in the World Cup and other major FIFA competitions. Thrive Capital Management, the investment firm led by Josh Kushner, was involved in the plan.

FIFA withdrew the proposal on August 1 after it faced strong opposition. Kushner later defended the initiative, while acknowledging that those behind it had underestimated the political backlash within global football.

Why did UEFA seek documents?

UEFA subsequently filed discovery requests in three US courts. One request in the Southern District of New York seeks documents from Kushner and Thrive Capital. Separate requests were filed in Florida and Colorado, including one targeting Greg Maffei, the former Liberty Media chief who had advised Infantino.

UEFA has said the documents could help it prepare potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland. In court filings, the European body alleged that the proposed arrangement could have allowed Infantino and a small group around him to benefit from FIFA’s most valuable assets at the expense of the organisation and its members.

“Infantino claimed that the plan would ‘unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has,’” UEFA lawyers told the courts.

The lawyers argued that the proposal was instead “a vehicle for Infantino and that small circle to acquire a permanent stake in and otherwise profit from FIFA’s most valuable assets” to the detriment of FIFA, its members and others across the football community.

FIFA rejects UEFA’s allegations

FIFA has strongly rejected UEFA’s interpretation of the proposal and questioned the legal basis for the discovery requests.

In its Colorado filing, FIFA argued that UEFA was seeking evidence for a foreign criminal case that did not exist and that UEFA had no authority to initiate such proceedings.

FIFA also alleged that UEFA’s opposition was partly motivated by concerns that smaller football nations could gain greater financial strength and become more competitive with Europe’s established football powers.

Last week, UEFA separately called for an independent external investigation into the origins of FIFA Forward Enterprise. It also warned that if Infantino seeks re-election at next year’s FIFA Congress, it would work with other confederations to provide member associations with an alternative centred on integrity, accountability and institutional reform.

The controversy has also placed a spotlight on Kushner, who has since agreed to purchase the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers alongside Bob Iger.