UEFA is preparing to take legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts, alleging possible financial mismanagement linked to a collapsed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The European football governing body has filed documents in a Manhattan court seeking discovery of potential evidence from Thrive Capital Management, the New York investment fund founded by Joshua Kushner.
Thrive and Kushner were slated to be anchor investors in a deal that would have paid FIFA $4.2 billion (€3.6 billion) for a 20% stake in a subsidiary responsible for running the sport's commercial events, including the World Cup. The proposal was abandoned on 1 August after a fierce backlash from global football leaders, including UEFA.
In a 56-page document seen by the Associated Press, UEFA's lawyers state: “UEFA and its counsel are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.” The document suggests the $4.2 billion figure could be a “fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.”
Background of a controversial presidency
Infantino took over FIFA in 2016 from the disgraced Sepp Blatter, with widespread expectations that he would detoxify the organisation's brand after years of corruption scandals. However, his tenure has been marked by repeated controversies, including the failed investment scheme and ongoing scrutiny from Swiss authorities.
The proposed deal with Thrive was intended to raise capital for FIFA's expanded Club World Cup and other commercial ventures. Critics argued that selling a stake in the World Cup's future revenues would undermine the sport's financial integrity and hand control to private investors. UEFA's legal move suggests that Infantino may have pushed the plan for personal gain rather than the benefit of football.
The Swiss Criminal Code's Article 158 covers “criminal mismanagement,” which can include actions that cause financial harm to a company or its stakeholders. If UEFA proceeds with the complaint, it would add to the legal pressures already facing Infantino, who has been questioned by Swiss prosecutors in separate investigations.
Infantino has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and FIFA has dismissed previous allegations as baseless. The organisation has not yet responded publicly to UEFA's latest filing.
The case also raises questions about the governance of international football, particularly the relationship between FIFA and its continental confederations. UEFA, led by Aleksander Čeferin, has often clashed with Infantino over issues of transparency and power distribution.
For European football, the stakes are high. The World Cup remains the sport's most lucrative event, and any financial mismanagement could have ripple effects on clubs, national associations, and fans across the continent. The outcome of this legal manoeuvring could shape the future of FIFA's commercial strategy and its accountability to the wider football community.
As the legal process unfolds, attention will focus on whether Swiss courts accept the case and what evidence emerges from the New York discovery request. For now, UEFA's move signals a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between European football's governing body and FIFA's leadership.
