Key facts
- UEFA is seeking to subpoena Josh Kushner as part of a legal challenge against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
- UEFA alleges "criminal mismanagement" by Infantino related to a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
- Kushner's firm, Thrive Capital, was involved in developing the private investor plan.
- UEFA is not pursuing criminal charges against Kushner or Thrive.
- The plan to sell World Cup stakes was abandoned after UEFA led a revolt.
- UEFA has ended its boycott of FIFA competitions after receiving assurances the plan would not be revived.
UEFA is pursuing legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, alleging "criminal mismanagement" related to a proposed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. As part of this challenge, UEFA intends to subpoena Josh Kushner, whose investment firm Thrive Capital was involved in developing the transaction. UEFA's lawyers, led by Andrew Levander, argue that Kushner and Thrive are in a position to provide crucial information about the discussions and terms of the deal.
The court application emphasizes that UEFA is not seeking to prosecute Kushner or Thrive, but rather to gather information from them as counterparties to the proposed transaction. UEFA's discontent with Infantino reportedly escalated due to decisions made without council input, including awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump and handling of player suspensions. The plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, which became public through media reports, prompted UEFA to lead a successful effort to abandon the initiative.
Following the abandonment of the plan and assurances from FIFA, UEFA has ended its boycott of FIFA competitions. The House Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin, has also expressed interest in investigating the deal.