FIFA has accused UEFA of launching a misinformation campaign and attempting to influence the race for its presidential campaign. This accusation was made in new court documents filed in the US. FIFA described UEFA's conduct as "in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment". The tensions between the two football governing bodies have escalated in recent months.
UEFA had filed legal papers in the US requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from FIFA. They warned that they could lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland if FIFA did not comply. UEFA accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and fraud over the now-shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme. This scheme proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.
FIFA has strongly denied UEFA's allegations, stating that their filing contained "numerous false or misleading statements about FIFA and Infantino". FIFA said that UEFA's suggestions that Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal were without merit. The governing body also described UEFA's filing as "farcically overbroad" and said that districts faced with similar requests had rejected such applications.
FIFA has refused to release evidence relating to the FFE plan, requesting that the court deny UEFA's application for discovery. Insiders believe that if FIFA has nothing to hide, it should disclose the documents and speed up the legal process. UEFA has been at the forefront of the rebellion against Infantino, who is facing calls to stand down from three confederations.
Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate. The FIFA president faced calls for his resignation over the FFE plan but claimed that the project was intended to generate additional money for the game. An independent review of FFE has been called for by Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a FIFA vice-president.
The FFE plan sparked a major backlash, leading to UEFA's accusations against Infantino. UEFA has led the criticism of Infantino, who has been at the helm of FIFA since 2016. The FIFA presidential election is set to take place in March 2027, with Infantino seeking a fourth term.
The ongoing dispute between FIFA and UEFA has raised concerns about the governance of football. The two governing bodies have been at odds over several issues in recent years. The situation remains to be seen as both parties await the court's decision on the disclosure of documents.
Key points
- FIFA has accused UEFA of a misinformation campaign and bad faith in an attempt to influence its presidential election.
- UEFA accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and fraud over the now-shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.
- Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.
