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UEFA preparing criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts for alleged financial mismanagement.
  • The complaint stems from Infantino's abandoned plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors, including a company founded by Joshua Kushner.
  • UEFA is seeking testimony and documents from FIFA entities in Florida and an investment fund in New York that could be used in the complaint.

Europe's soccer governing body, UEFA, is preparing to file a criminal complaint in Swiss courts against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, alleging financial mismanagement. The complaint centers on Infantino's now-abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights linked to future men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup to private investors.

UEFA and its counsel are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

— UEFA's lawyersDescribing the potential legal action against FIFA President Infantino.

UEFA's lawyers stated in a legal document that they are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code. The proposed deal, which involved a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise, aimed to secure $4.2 billion for a 20% stake from anchor investors like Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner. UEFA suggests this figure might have been a "fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit."

In pursuit of evidence, UEFA has filed requests in U.S. federal courts. Specifically, it is asking a southern Florida court for permission to obtain testimony and documents from FIFA entities located in Miami. Additionally, UEFA filed documents in a Manhattan court seeking discovery of potential evidence from Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law.

UEFA was the first to react to Infantino's plan, threatening to boycott any FIFA-sponsored competitions, which would have included the next men's World Cup, which will be hosted in Europe and Africa.

— Article textDetailing UEFA's initial strong opposition to Infantino's plan.

Infantino was forced to scrap the plan on August 1 after a senior adviser resigned and Asia's soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it. UEFA had previously threatened to boycott FIFA-sponsored competitions if the plan proceeded. The organization issued a strong statement expressing a loss of confidence in Infantino's leadership, highlighting concerns over his handling of the commercial rights deal.

Infantino was forced to scrap the plan on Aug. 1 after his senior adviser, who sat on a White House panel, resigned and Asia's soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it.

— Article textExplaining the circumstances that led to the abandonment of the World Cup profit sale plan.
About this summary

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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