Fifa has hit back at Uefa, accusing European football's governing body of running a "smear campaign" against Fifa and president Gianni Infantino over his now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The dispute has escalated into a legal battle in the US courts, after Uefa filed papers seeking disclosure of evidence and documents as it prepares potential criminal claims against Infantino in Switzerland, prompting Fifa to lodge its own filing asking a court to oppose that request. The row underscores a serious rift within global football's governing bodies, with Infantino already facing calls to step down from three confederations.

Uefa had accused Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and securing "a fraudulently off-market price" for his own benefit over the shelved Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme, which would reportedly have seen venture capitalist Joshua Kushner lead a $4.2bn investment for a 20% stake in a new Fifa commercial arm, valuing the World Cup at around £15bn. Fifa insists the scheme was only ever a proposal requiring member association and council approval, and says it was intended to boost funding for smaller nations, from £5.9m to £14.7m per association for 2027-2030. Uefa has also sought documents from Kushner, who expressed regret over the affair, and adviser Greg Maffei, though neither is expected to face legal proceedings themselves.