FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” against the world governing body and its president, Gianni Infantino, as the dispute over a scrapped plan to bring private investment into FIFA’s commercial rights intensifies.
The latest escalation came after UEFA asked US courts to release documents and obtain testimony relating to FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed subsidiary that would have brought outside investors into the commercial rights of major FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. UEFA said the information could be used in potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Infantino and other FIFA officials or advisers.
UEFA has alleged that the FFE proposal was developed without proper consultation with FIFA’s Council, regional confederations or its 211 member associations. It has also questioned the valuation and structure of the proposed investment, accusing Infantino of potentially benefiting personally from the arrangement.
FIFA, however, has rejected those allegations and argued in a court filing that UEFA is misrepresenting what was ultimately only a proposal.
“While these applications are styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they are little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said in its filing on Thursday.
The governing body stressed that FFE could not have proceeded without support from FIFA’s member associations and the necessary approval of the FIFA Council. FIFA accused UEFA of choosing a public confrontation rather than participating in the organisation’s formal decision-making process.
The FFE proposal was abandoned in July after strong opposition f rom UEFA and other football stakeholders. The plan had envisaged private investors taking a stake in a new FIFA commercial entity, with an investment of about $4.2 billion proposed for a 20% interest.
The controversy has nevertheless continued after the proposal was withdrawn. UEFA is now seeking evidence in the United States that it believes could support possible criminal claims under Swiss law, while FIFA is challenging those efforts in court.
The dispute has also become increasingly political ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027, when Infantino is expected to seek another term. UEFA and several European associations have intensified their criticism of his leadership, while Infantino continues to retain significant support among football bodies outside Europe.
For now, the battle has shifted from the proposed investment itself to the circumstances surrounding its creation, the governance process inside FIFA and whether any individuals involved stood to benefit from the abandoned scheme.
