Fifa launches attack on Uefa

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

FIFA has filed a legal motion to block UEFA’s attempt to access documents related to a scrapped plan to sell stakes in the World Cup through a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise. The dispute underscores deep divisions between the organizations ahead of FIFA’s 2027 presidential election, with UEFA considering a rival candidate and accusations of secrecy and misinformation fueling tensions.

FIFA has mounted a legal challenge against UEFA’s efforts to obtain documents related to a now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. The dispute centers on FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal for the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a subsidiary intended to commercialize World Cup rights through private investment. FIFA filed a motion in a U.S. federal court in South Florida on September 28, opposing UEFA’s request for discovery of related materials, labeling UEFA’s actions as a “misinformation campaign” aimed at influencing FIFA’s upcoming presidential election.

The FFE proposal, which was abandoned in July after opposition from UEFA and other continental football confederations, including CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, had faced criticism for a lack of consultation with FIFA’s governance bodies. UEFA alleged that Infantino developed the initiative in secrecy with a small group of advisers and investors, circumventing the FIFA Council and member associations. UEFA also claimed that the valuation of FFE was artificially low at approximately $20 billion, contending that this figure undervalued FIFA’s commercial rights and was not subject to competitive bidding or independent assessment.

FIFA refuted these assertions, arguing that UEFA confused equity value with enterprise value—two different financial metrics—and that the total enterprise value of FFE exceeded $30 billion. The organization emphasized that the proposal required approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations and the FIFA Council and stressed that the plan would have been subject to ongoing oversight. FIFA further denied any suggestion that Infantino sought personal financial gain from the FFE proposal, calling such implications “categorically without merit.”

UEFA’s legal filing was reportedly part of preparations for a possible criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland. However, FIFA contended that no criminal investigations have been opened and that UEFA lacks authority to initiate such proceedings or to participate in them. FIFA characterized UEFA’s discovery application as an attempt at “harassment” and contended that it aimed to sway the presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Infantino, who is seeking re-election, wrote to FIFA’s member associations reaffirming his commitment to transparency and to a properly governed decision-making process. He expressed openness to considering alternative funding proposals from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Confederation, with discussions planned for the FIFA Council meeting on October 15.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between FIFA and UEFA over governance and transparency within world football’s governing bodies, with UEFA reportedly considering putting forward a rival candidate to challenge Infantino’s presidency. Both sides have declined to provide public comments beyond official court filings, underscoring the sensitivity of the legal and political issues at play.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.