UEFA is preparing to initiate criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Switzerland in relation to his recently withdrawn plan to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors. The move marks a significant escalation in the dispute between European football’s governing body and FIFA's leadership, centering on allegations of financial mismanagement and potential criminal conduct.
The controversy stems from Infantino’s proposal, announced in late July, to sell a 20 percent stake in a newly created subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would oversee FIFA's commercial events, including the World Cup. Thrive Capital, a New York-based investment firm led by Joshua Kushner—brother of Jared Kushner, former son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump—was identified as the anchor investor in the deal. Thrive Capital had offered approximately $4.2 billion for the stake.
UEFA’s legal filings, submitted to courts in the United States, describe the sale price as "absurdly low" and suggest it was neither established through an open, competitive auction nor independently valued. UEFA has raised concerns that the transaction was structured secretly and potentially designed to benefit Infantino and a close circle of associates financially. The filings allege that Infantino may have promoted a "fraudulently off-market price," raising questions about the propriety of the valuation and whether he stood to gain personally from the arrangement.
The European governing body has sought legal discovery in U.S. courts to access documents and electronic data from Thrive Capital and Kushner and has requested subpoenas for evidence. UEFA also filed for discovery related to FIFA in a Florida district court. According to the filings, FIFA’s 211 member associations were offered financial inducements to support the plan, including payments equating to $40 million over four years. These payments, UEFA claims, were out of proportion to many national associations’ usual operating budgets and were contingent on approval of the sale. UEFA further states that Infantino imposed a compressed timetable for associations to decide, with less than two months to evaluate a major reorganization of FIFA’s commercial assets.
Infantino defended the plan as a means to bolster the position of FIFA’s member associations, especially those in need of additional support. However, the scheme faced swift and broad opposition, particularly across European football, where member associations voted to boycott FIFA tournaments over the proposal. The plan was formally withdrawn on August 1 following this backlash.
UEFA’s legal team has indicated that it is considering criminal charges under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which relates to criminal mismanagement. Swiss law does not require UEFA to demonstrate a likelihood of success before bringing such proceedings, and if convicted, the implicated parties could face prison terms of up to three years.
The situation has intensified with UEFA’s move to preserve all relevant documents and materials and compel testimony from involved parties. Seventeen FIFA officials, including Infantino, have been specifically instructed to maintain control of all records relating to the deal.
Sports law experts note that UEFA’s actions indicate a serious intent not only to halt attempts at selling FIFA’s commercial rights but also to hold the FIFA president personally accountable if wrongdoing is proven. Investigators are expected to focus on whether Infantino or others anticipated personal financial benefits from the proposed transaction.
The dispute arrives as Infantino prepares for his re-election bid next year and represents one of the most significant challenges of his decade-long tenure leading FIFA. Meanwhile, UEFA has announced it will not proceed with boycotts after receiving assurances that no similar sales will be pursued in the future.