Fifa accuses Uefa of ‘smear campaign’ against Infantino
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.
In short
- Fifa accuses Uefa of a "smear campaign" against president Infantino.
- Row over scrapped World Cup investment plan heads to US courts.
- Infantino faces mounting pressure and calls to resign from three confederations.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Fifa’s strongest case is that the investment plan was a proposal, not an approved transaction, and would have required sign-off from its member associations and council. It says the scheme could have brought in substantial funding for smaller football nations, and argues that Uefa’s pursuit of documents and potential criminal claims risks turning a governance dispute into a damaging public campaign before the facts are established.
The case against
Uefa’s strongest case is that a proposed $4.2bn investment for a 20% stake in a new Fifa commercial arm raises serious questions about valuation, process and whether Infantino could have benefited personally. Seeking documents through the courts could help establish what was discussed and whether the proposal was properly managed, especially given the scale of the assets and the concerns raised by football confederations.
Explained simply
Fifa runs world football and organises the men’s and women’s World Cups. Uefa governs football in Europe and is one of Fifa’s regional confederations. Gianni Infantino, a former Uefa general secretary, has led Fifa since 2016.
The dispute centres on a proposal called Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would have brought private investment into a new Fifa commercial arm in return for a stake in it. Fifa said the plan could have increased funding for national associations, including those in smaller countries; the proposal was later abandoned.
The row has raised questions about how Fifa manages its commercial plans and who oversees its leadership. It also reflects tensions between Fifa and Uefa, which represents European football associations within the global governing body.
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