UEFA to File Criminal Complaint Against FIFA’s Infantino in Swiss Courts Over World Cup Deal

POLICY WIRE — Monaco, Switzerland — UEFA is gearing up to file a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts, alleging financial mismanagement in his abandoned plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

The European soccer governing body announced its legal intentions in court documents filed in the U.S. on Thursday, seeking access to potential evidence related to the deal, which was scrapped following strong opposition from UEFA and other global soccer leaders.

This move intensifies the pressure on Infantino, who is currently navigating the most significant crisis of his decade-long tenure as FIFA’s leader.

UEFA has submitted documents to a Manhattan court, requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund, Thrive Capital Management, founded by Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Additionally, UEFA filed a request in a southern Florida district for authorization of discovery “in a foreign proceeding” against FIFA, which maintains offices in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables.

Under the plan unveiled in late July, Thrive and Kushner were set to be the primary investors, paying FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary that would manage the soccer body’s commercial events, including the World Cup.

UEFA’s lawyers stated in a 56-page document seen by The Associated Press, 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 that the $4.2 billion figure could be a “fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.”

FIFA is projected to have approximately $5 billion in cash reserves following the World Cup in North America, which is expected to boost its revenue to a record $15 billion over the 2023-26 commercial cycle.

UEFA questioned why the FIFA president believed he needed outside investors to expand development funding.

Infantino abandoned the sell-off plan on August 1 after facing intense criticism led by European soccer officials.

UEFA first threatened legal action on August 3, warning FIFA against destroying or hiding any “relevant materials” related to the plan. Thursday’s legal action was disclosed to its member federations in Monaco just two hours before the Champions League draw commenced.

UEFA lawyers told the courts, Infantino claimed that the plan would ‘unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has.’ In truth, it was a vehicle for Infantino and that small circle to acquire a permanent stake in and otherwise profit from FIFA’s most valuable assets to the detriment of FIFA, its members, and other parties within the football family.

Under the terms Infantino announced, those investors stood to acquire a permanent financial interest in FIFA’s commercial arm for $4.2 billion, implying an absurdly low enterprise value of only approximately $20 billion, a figure that was neither the product of an open, competitive auction, nor tested by any independent valuer.

Thrive declined to comment. FIFA was approached for comment.

It remains unclear whether UEFA will send a potential criminal complaint to the Swiss federal prosecution office in Bern or to local prosecutors in FIFA’s home city Zurich.

The Swiss attorney general’s office has a poor track record in recent years prosecuting cases of alleged corruption linked to FIFA and soccer officials.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, former UEFA president Michel Platini, and the influential Qatari president of Champions League title holder Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser al-Khelaïfi, were all acquitted twice at trials in Switzerland.

The crisis has raised questions about Infantino’s future. Just months ago, he was widely expected to win another four-year term in the FIFA election set for March 2027. However, a growing number of soccer federations around the world, mainly in Europe, have withdrawn their support, with some joining UEFA in calling on him to step down, ideally before the November 18 deadline for candidates.

UEFA stated, Should the current FIFA president nevertheless seek another mandate, UEFA will join forces with its partner confederations to ensure that member associations are offered a credible alternative, one committed to integrity, accountability, development, and genuine institutional change.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)