FIFA-UEFA: the football battle ends up in court
UEFA is set to file a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Infantino over the proposal – which was subsequently withdrawn – to allow private investors into FIFA’s commercial operations
The battle for world football is heading to the courts. UEFA is set to file a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Gianni Infantino over his handling of the project – which was subsequently withdrawn – that would have allowed private investors to enter the commercial side of the World Cup. This move marks the peak of the clash between the FIFA president and the European governing body led by Aleksander Ceferin.
To support the case, the Swiss Confederation has asked a US District Court to grant access to FIFA documents deemed relevant as evidence. At the heart of the matter is the project known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise, through which Infantino aimed to enhance the value of the world football body’s commercial assets.
The plan involved selling 20 per cent of the commercial rights to private investors for approximately 4.2 billion dollars. Among those involved was Thrive Capital Management, an American fund led by Joshua Kushner, an entrepreneur with links to US President Donald Trump.
According to UEFA, however, the deal was based on a significantly underestimated valuation of FIFA’s assets. European lawyers argue that the entire commercial operation was valued at just 20 billion dollars, a figure deemed to be far below the true value of the World Cup rights. For this reason, UEFA alleges “criminal mismanagement” and that the initiative was in fact “a vehicle for Infantino and his inner circle to acquire a permanent stake in and profit from FIFA’s most valuable assets, to the detriment of FIFA itself”.
Infantino has always defended the project, arguing that it would unlock new opportunities for growth and new resources for world football. But opposition from UEFA grew to the point where FIFA was forced to back down. On 1 August, the president of world football’s governing body announced the withdrawal of the initiative. For Ceferin, however, the matter is not over. As early as 3 August, UEFA had formally asked FIFA to retain all documentation relating to the operation, ordering it not to destroy or conceal any potentially relevant material.
