Fifa has accused Uefa of waging a "misinformation campaign" against its president, Gianni Infantino, as the governing body urged a US court to reject a discovery request linked to a controversial investment proposal. The proposal, which was abandoned in July, involved transferring World Cup commercial rights into a subsidiary called Fifa Forward Enterprise. Uefa had asked a US federal court for permission to obtain testimony and documents for use in a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland against Infantino.
Uefa alleged that Infantino developed the proposal in secret with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing Fifa's normal governance processes and failing to consult Fifa's Council, regional confederations or member associations. The filing asked a US court to authorise discovery from Fifa entities based in Florida. Uefa said investors would have paid $4.2bn for a stake in Fifa Forward Enterprise, valuing the business at about $20bn.
Fifa responded to Uefa's allegations, stating that the governing body's brief contained "numerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and Infantino". Fifa said Uefa's suggestions that Infantino sought to profit personally from the proposal were without merit. The Fifa filing also explained that the proposal was subject to approval by both Fifa member associations and the Fifa Council.
The abandoned proposal has sparked controversy, with Uefa and other confederations expressing concerns over a lack of consultation. The dispute has fuelled demands for changes to Fifa's governance. Infantino has since written to all 211 member associations proposing an independent review of Fifa's decision-making processes. The Swiss administrator is up for re-election in March.
Fifa has alleged that Uefa's legal filings are an attempt to influence the presidential election. The governing body said Uefa's actions were an attempt to spread misinformation about Infantino. Infantino has ordered an assessment of proposals to distribute more money to national associations after calls from Uefa and Concacaf for a $2.1bn payout from Fifa's reserves.
Uefa president Aleksander Čeferin and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani proposed that each of Fifa's 211 member associations receive at least $10m during the 2027-30 cycle. They also sought an independent review of Fifa's reserves. Infantino defended the rationale for the withdrawn commercial plan, saying it would have generated funding beyond what Fifa could distribute from existing resources.
The assessment of proposals to distribute more money to national associations will go before the Fifa Council on October 15. Any additional funding will be subject to financial checks and formal approval. Infantino asked confederation chiefs to send their financial models, assumptions and supporting information to the secretary general, with relevant Fifa committees involved in verifying the assumptions.
Key points
- Fifa accused Uefa of spreading misinformation about its president, Gianni Infantino.
- The controversy surrounds an abandoned investment proposal involving World Cup commercial rights.
- Infantino proposed an independent review of Fifa's decision-making processes.
