UEFA launches disciplinary proceedings against FIFA and Gianni Infantino

UEFA has taken a significant step by launching disciplinary proceedings against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, signaling a deep rift between the two football governing bodies.

The European football confederation has expressed strong condemnation of FIFA's recent actions, stating they have "completely lost confidence" in Infantino. This move follows Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in both the men's and women's World Cups. The proposal reportedly faced backlash from numerous federations and confederations, with UEFA reportedly threatening to boycott the next World Cup.

According to reports, UEFA's lawsuit will target both Infantino personally and FIFA as an organization. The core of UEFA's grievance lies in Infantino's alleged failure to consult with any FIFA member associations, including UEFA itself, before publicly announcing the plan. The proposal involves transferring commercial rights for the World Cups and the Club World Cup to a new subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

UEFA stated that Infantino's announcement on July 28, 2026, was made "without consultation with the FIFA Council, UEFA or any other confederation, nor with any of the 211 FIFA member associations." They further alleged that Infantino's announcement represented the public disclosure of a plan that he and a "narrow circle of associates" had conceived and secretly developed for over a year.

The proceedings are expected to be conducted in Switzerland. This escalation marks a new phase in the ongoing tensions between UEFA and FIFA, highlighting a serious dispute over governance and decision-making processes within international football.