FIFA Accuses UEFA of ‘Smear Campaign’ Against Infantino

FIFA has accused UEFA of turning a US court proceeding into a “smear campaign” and a “fishing expedition” against the governing body and its president, Gianni Infantino.

The dispute centers on FIFA's plan to sell investors a stake in commercial rights linked to the men's and women's World Cups. UEFA filed an ex parte application with the US District Court in New York seeking testimony and documents from US-based entities. UEFA said the material could be used in potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland, where both organizations are based.

In documents seen by Reuters, FIFA described the application as “little more than press releases” intended to support UEFA's “smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership.” UEFA has argued that the FIFA Forward Enterprise, the proposed vehicle for the rights deal, was developed without adequate consultation with FIFA's 211 member associations and FIFA's own governing bodies.

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Smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership.

UEFA threatened to boycott the World Cup if the proposal went ahead and called for a “genuinely independent external review” of how it was created. “FIFA cannot investigate itself and expect the football community to simply accept its conclusions,” UEFA said.

Pressure on Infantino has grown since details of the plan became public. Several countries have said they will not support his bid for a fourth term in March 2027. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have also called for his resignation, while the South American and African confederations continue to support him, according to the report.

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FIFA cannot investigate itself and expect the football community to simply accept its conclusions.