FIFA Hits Back at UEFA Over US Court Bid on Abandoned Investment Plan
FIFA has filed a forceful response in a Florida district court, rejecting UEFA’s bid to obtain documents linked to the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise project and denying allegations against president Gianni Infantino.
The world governing body described UEFA’s US legal application as packed with inaccurate or misleading claims, arguing that the requests for sensitive material are excessively broad and made in bad faith. FIFA says the move forms part of a political campaign intended to damage Infantino before the next presidential election.
FIFA rejects personal-gain allegation
UEFA last month sought disclosure of evidence relating to the proposed private-investment vehicle and indicated it could submit a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Infantino. The European body alleged criminal mismanagement, claiming he pushed an undervalued proposal for his own benefit.
FIFA has dismissed that accusation outright. Its court filing says there is no basis for suggesting Infantino stood to profit personally, or that he breached any legal or ethical duty.
FIFA also maintains that examining the investment proposal was part of its institutional responsibilities, not a secret operation directed by its president.
Dispute over FFE valuation
At the centre of the confrontation is the valuation of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a plan that would have opened stakes in the World Cup and other major FIFA competitions to private investors.
UEFA claimed the project had been wrongly valued at $20 billion. FIFA’s response says that figure confused the value of equity with the company’s full enterprise value, which it put at more than $30 billion.
FIFA added that any final agreement would have needed full approval across its 211 member associations, challenging the suggestion that the proposal could have been advanced without broad internal ratification.
Election pressure intensifies
The FFE project was dropped in July after major resistance from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation. Those confederations cited insufficient consultation over a plan involving some of football’s most valuable commercial rights.
Its collapse intensified the pressure on Infantino, with UEFA publicly withdrawing confidence in his leadership and calls emerging for him to resign immediately.
FIFA has argued that UEFA’s discovery action was lodged shortly before the FIFA election and was designed to influence the contest through damaging claims. Infantino is seeking a fourth term when the presidential vote is held in March 2027.
Potential challengers have until November 18 to put forward a candidate against the FIFA president. Infantino has meanwhile proposed an independent examination of FIFA’s internal decision-making procedures as he attempts to ease mounting unrest.
