FIFA has accused UEFA of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against its president, Gianni Infantino, as the dispute over an abandoned plan to sell part of the World Cup business to private investors moves into the courts.
The governing body made the accusation in a response filed in New York after UEFA sought access to documents relating to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) subsidiary.
UEFA has also warned that it is considering criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Mr Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials and advisers over the venture, which was withdrawn after a backlash from several confederations.
In its legal submission, FIFA said the applications filed by UEFA were “little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership”.
FIFA’s lawyers also argued that UEFA’s case had a “fundamental defect”, claiming it was seeking evidence for a foreign criminal proceeding that did not yet exist and which UEFA did not have the authority to initiate.
UEFA has applied to courts in the United States for information from FIFA-related entities and from Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, which had been expected to lead private-sector investment in the scheme. UEFA has stated that neither Mr Kushner nor Thrive is expected to be a defendant.
The FFE proposal would have allowed private investors to contribute up to $4.2 billion towards a new commercial subsidiary linked to FIFA’s major competitions, including the World Cup. FIFA maintains that the plan was only a proposal and would have required approval from its member associations and governing council.
FIFA has defended the project as a way of increasing funding for football development, particularly in smaller and less wealthy member associations. Its submission claims the money could help build facilities, strengthen national teams and support the growth of domestic football.
It also alleges that UEFA opposed the plan to protect the financial strength of its own competitions and prevent smaller countries from becoming more competitive. FIFA said any disagreement should have been resolved within football’s governing structures rather than through legal action.
UEFA, however, has argued that the proposed transaction requires closer examination and has sought documents relating to its development, valuation, financing and internal approval. The requested material includes communications involving FIFA officials, Thrive Capital and other advisers.
The dispute has intensified pressure on Mr Infantino, who is facing demands for his resignation and could be challenged at the FIFA presidential election in March. A senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, previously described the proposed World Cup subsidiary as a “bad deal” when announcing his departure.
