FIFA lawyers have claimed that European soccer body UEFA is harassing President Gianni Infantino in a court filing. The filing, seen by The Associated Press, was submitted to a Florida judge and urges the denial of UEFA's request for evidence discovery about a World Cup private investor plan. The plan, which was dropped in July, had sparked a furor in the soccer world.
UEFA had suggested that Infantino sought to profit personally from the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan. However, FIFA lawyers argue that this claim is false and that UEFA's conduct demonstrates bad faith and harassment. The FFE plan involved selling at least 20% of FIFA's future commercial rights for $4.2 billion to investors led by Josh Kushner. The plan was revealed in July and led to criticism from FIFA's now-ousted chief operating officer Kevin Lamour and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro.
Infantino later apologized for errors in handling the sell-off plan and offered to open an independent external review of FIFA's governance. The FIFA president plans to seek a fourth and final term in office through 2031. The November 18 deadline for potential candidates to enter the FIFA presidential election contest is looming, and FIFA lawyers argue that the court should reject any attempt to influence the election.
UEFA is preparing an election challenge to Infantino, who had seemed set to win unopposed until creating the crisis. The European soccer body led a global backlash to the FFE plan and claims that the value was a "fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit." UEFA also speculated that Infantino eyed a CEO-like role at the subsidiary on a higher salary than his current $6 million presidential pay package.
FIFA lawyers have consistently said that the commercial spinoff was intended to accelerate development of soccer worldwide, outside the wealthy power base of Europe. The secretive plan was revealed by media reports on July 28. The plan's collapse led to the resignation of Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs partner, in protest at the deal he said was bad for soccer.
UEFA has asked for authorization of discovery with three courts, including in Manhattan and Miami, aiming to help prepare a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland for financial mismanagement. However, FIFA lawyers argue that UEFA's conduct demonstrates bad faith and harassment, and that the court should reject any attempt to influence FIFA's presidential election.
The case has significant implications for the future of FIFA and European soccer. Infantino's leadership has been under scrutiny since the collapse of the FFE plan. The FIFA presidential election is set to take place in March in Morocco. The outcome of the case could have far-reaching consequences for the sport.
Key points
- FIFA lawyers claim UEFA is harassing President Gianni Infantino over a dropped World Cup private investor plan.
- UEFA had suggested that Infantino sought to profit personally from the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, but FIFA lawyers argue that this claim is false.
- The case has significant implications for the future of FIFA and European soccer.
