Key facts
- FIFA accused UEFA of orchestrating a smear campaign against President Gianni Infantino.
- The dispute stems from UEFA's legal filing in the U.S. regarding a proposed $4.2 billion investment in FIFA's commercial operations.
- UEFA alleged Infantino promoted an "off-market price" for a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial operations.
- FIFA claims UEFA's actions are "press releases" aimed at undermining FIFA leadership.
- FIFA believes UEFA blocked the investment to maintain its global market power and prevent developing nations from strengthening.
- The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal has been abandoned, but a legal battle is expected in U.S. courts.
FIFA has accused UEFA of orchestrating a coordinated smear campaign against its president, Gianni Infantino, in response to legal threats. The dispute centers on a controversial multi-billion dollar investment proposal that has caused a significant political rift between the two organizations.
According to reports, UEFA filed a legal document in the United States on August 28, alleging that Infantino was promoting a "fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit" regarding the sale of a 20% stake in FIFA’s commercial operations for $4.2 billion. This plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, would have involved American investment fund Thrive Eternal purchasing a major stake in global competitions.
In response, FIFA lodged a motion to intervene in New York, asking for the application to be opposed. FIFA heavily criticized UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin, stating that their applications were "little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership." FIFA further argued that UEFA blocked the FFE proposal merely to prevent smaller nations from gaining financial strength and challenging the European elite, thereby maintaining their global market power.
FIFA also noted that UEFA lacks the authority to initiate the criminal proceedings they threatened in Switzerland. The FFE proposal has since been officially abandoned. Both FIFA and UEFA are now bracing for a protracted legal showdown in the United States courts, with the focus shifting to how a judge handles disclosure requests involving Infantino and the American investors.