FIFA faces UEFA legal escalation
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association faces a deepening governance dispute after the Union of European Football Associations began gathering evidence for a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
UEFA filed applications in U.S. courts on August 27 seeking documents and testimony related to the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. The material may support UEFA allegations of criminal mismanagement in Switzerland.
FIFA Forward Enterprise covered key rights
UEFA says FIFA Forward Enterprise would have moved commercial operations into a new subsidiary covering rights linked to the men’s World Cup, women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, and other FIFA assets.
FIFA presented the concept on July 28 to increase development funding for 211 member associations. Infantino said the subsidiary would remain FIFA-owned and controlled if members approved it.
UEFA challenges the $20 billion valuation
UEFA says investors led by Thrive Capital planned to pay $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise. That investment implied an enterprise value of roughly $20 billion for the proposed business.
Court filings say UEFA considers that valuation too low and alleges the figure was not produced through an open competitive auction. UEFA also says no independent valuation process tested the proposed price.
FIFA and UEFA dispute the approval process
UEFA alleges Infantino developed the proposal with selected advisers and investors without normal consultation. Its filing states that the FIFA Council, regional confederations, and member associations were not properly involved before the announcement.
FIFA described the process differently, saying consultation began after the July 28 announcement. Infantino said the plan required approval from a majority of member associations and the FIFA Council before moving forward.
FIFA tied FFE to development funding
FIFA said the plan could raise development funding above $10 billion across future cycles. Under the proposal, each member association could receive $20 million for 2027 through 2030, up from $8 million.
An additional optional $20 million could have been available through a Fast Forward program. FIFA said combined amounts could provide as much as $40 million per association during the 2027 through 2030 cycle.
FIFA withdrew the plan after backlash
Infantino withdrew FIFA Forward Enterprise on July 31 after opposition spread across soccer. FIFA said the proposal had created divisions that no longer matched its stated goal of uniting and improving the game.
UEFA welcomed the withdrawal on August 1 but said broader concerns remained. The European body demanded more transparency, questioned the need for outside investment, and called for trust to be rebuilt within FIFA governance.
UEFA seeks evidence from Florida
UEFA turned to U.S. courts because potential evidence is held by organizations and individuals based there. A Florida application seeks material from FIFA Americas and FWC2026 US for possible use in Swiss proceedings.
A separate Manhattan filing seeks discovery from Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, which was expected to lead the investor group. UEFA requested records concerning negotiations, valuation work, approvals, and proposed transaction documents.
UEFA seeks records from more U.S. advisers
UEFA also sought evidence connected to former Liberty Media chief Greg Maffei and BANN Ventures through a separate Colorado application. Court filings describe Maffei as a commercial adviser involved in the proposed deal.
JPMorgan also worked with FIFA on the planned investment structure. UEFA is using U.S. discovery procedures to gather relevant records before pursuing its contemplated criminal complaint against Infantino under Swiss law.
Swiss law shapes UEFA’s next move
Swiss law matters because FIFA is headquartered in Zurich and operates as an association under Swiss jurisdiction. UEFA’s lawyers say they are contemplating proceedings involving criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
The filings remain an evidence-gathering stage rather than a judgment against Infantino. No Swiss court has ruled that he committed wrongdoing, and UEFA’s allegations have not been established as proven.
UEFA demands FIFA governance reform
European soccer leaders met in Monaco on August 27 during UEFA club competition draws to discuss FIFA’s ongoing governance dispute. Those attending unanimously authorized UEFA leadership to pursue institutional, political, and legal avenues for reform.
UEFA called for an independent external review of FIFA Forward Enterprise with access to relevant records and communications. It also demanded clearer limits on presidential authority and governance centered on FIFA as an institution.
Fun fact: Before becoming FIFA president, Infantino was UEFA’s chief administrator and had already spent about 16 years working inside European soccer governance.
UEFA pauses its boycott threat
UEFA suspended its threat to withdraw European teams from FIFA competitions after FIFA Forward Enterprise was abandoned. The organization said broader governance concerns remained and that it would continue pursuing institutional and legal measures.
The dispute increased pressure on FIFA because European teams represent a significant part of international football’s competitive and commercial landscape. UEFA said participation issues were no longer the immediate focus, while governance concerns continued.
Infantino faces wider political pressure
Opposition to Infantino extends beyond UEFA. The Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF joined UEFA in an August 10 open letter calling for collective leadership, stronger governance, and protection of soccer institutions from individual control.
Six Nordic national associations later said they had lost confidence in Infantino and supported an independent investigation. New Zealand also withdrew support for his reelection, while other federations and confederations continue backing him.
With Gianni Infantino’s FIFA leadership already under scrutiny, his past reaction to a $2 million salary offer adds another layer to the debate. Curious what he said? Explore the dispute behind the figure.
Infantino’s 2027 campaign faces uncertainty
Infantino announced on May 1 that he plans to seek reelection as FIFA president in 2027. FIFA limits presidents to 3 terms, but does not count their partial 2016 through 2019 mandate toward that limit.
That interpretation now faces a formal challenge from FairSquare, while UEFA has called for new leadership at FIFA. As of August 29, no Swiss judgment has been issued, and UEFA’s evidence gathering remains ongoing.
With football greats now openly challenging FIFA leadership, pressure on Gianni Infantino is growing beyond governing bodies. Curious who is speaking out and why? Explore the latest push for change at FIFA.
Should FIFA’s biggest decisions face stronger independent checks after UEFA challenged Gianni Infantino’s handling of FIFA Forward Enterprise? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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