FIFA Moves to Block UEFA Legal Action Over Infantino Dispute
FIFA has filed a motion in New York seeking to block UEFA’s legal application, escalating its dispute with Aleksander Ceferin’s confederation over Gianni Infantino and a now-shelved $4.2 billion investment plan.
Key takeaways
- FIFA says UEFA’s court action is part of a campaign designed to damage Infantino and the world governing body.
- UEFA’s August 28 filing raised allegations over the proposed sale of a 20 per cent commercial stake.
- The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan involved US fund Thrive Eternal investing $4.2bn (£3.1bn).
- FIFA argues UEFA opposed the deal to protect its financial influence over world football.
- The investment proposal has been abandoned, but disclosure demands involving Infantino and the US investors remain in dispute.
FIFA attacks UEFA over Infantino allegations
UEFA’s US legal submission alleged that Infantino was pursuing a price below market value for personal benefit in the proposed transaction. The deal would have handed Thrive Eternal a significant holding in FIFA’s commercial business and global competition rights through the FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
FIFA answered with an intervention request filed on Tuesday, urging the New York court not to allow UEFA’s application to proceed. Its response accused UEFA of dressing political attacks up as legal action, describing the filings as publicity-driven documents rather than a genuine court case.
The governing body also rejected UEFA’s threat of criminal action in Switzerland, insisting the European body does not have the power to commence such proceedings there.
What happens next
FIFA has claimed UEFA’s resistance was rooted in commercial self-interest, arguing that greater funding for developing football nations would create stronger rivals and weaken the European confederation’s market position and flagship competitions.
Joshua Kushner, linked to the investment fund involved in the proposed deal, said on Monday that the group had not understood the political realities surrounding global football.
With the FFE transaction no longer going ahead, the immediate court battle will centre on requests for documents and information concerning Infantino and the American investors. The fight points to a lengthy US legal process, while the long-running political tension between Infantino and Ceferin continues ahead of major international tournaments.
