FIFA accuses UEFA of a smear campaign against Infantino

FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a smear campaign against its leadership after European football’s governing body escalated its challenge over Gianni Infantino’s abandoned investment plan.

In a filing lodged in a U.S. court and seen by the BBC, FIFA asked the court to oppose UEFA’s request for evidence and documents by the end of the month. UEFA filed its request in the United States as part of potential criminal claims in Switzerland.

The dispute centers on Fifa Forward Enterprise, or FFE, a proposed scheme that would have involved private investors buying 20% of a new FIFA commercial subsidiary. Thrive Eternal, led by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, had discussed a $4.2 billion investment with Infantino before the plan was abandoned days after it became public in July.

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Rather than participate in that democratic process, Uefa issued a press release - the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership.

UEFA accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” and of promoting “a fraudulently off-market price” for his own benefit. FIFA rejected that framing, saying FFE had been only a proposal and could have proceeded only with majority support from member associations and approval from the FIFA Council.

“Rather than participate in that democratic process, Uefa issued a press release - the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership,” FIFA wrote. It also claimed UEFA wanted to stop smaller countries from gaining the financial strength to compete with Europe’s elite. FIFA said the plan could have raised funding for national associations from £5.9 million to £14.7 million per association for the 2027-2030 cycle.

UEFA has led opposition to Infantino, who faces calls to resign from three confederations. It has separately sought documents and testimony from Kushner and American financier Greg Maffei, a key adviser to the proposal. Kushner later said he regretted becoming involved, while maintaining that FFE’s motivations were sound.

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While we stand behind the motivations of FFE, we failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football, and the lengths some would go to… had we known what this would devolve into, we would not have gotten involved.