FIFA Accuses UEFA Of ‘Smear Campaign’ Over Infantino’s Failed $4.2 Billion World Cup Plan

The growing feud between FIFA and UEFA has taken another turn, with world football’s governing body accusing its European counterpart of conducting a “smear campaign” over a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major competitions.

FIFA made the accusation in a filing before a US District Court in Colorado, where it sought to intervene in UEFA’s efforts to obtain evidence linked to the abandoned proposal backed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

UEFA last week filed discovery requests in three US courts seeking documents connected to Infantino’s proposed $4.2 billion FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The plan aimed to bring private-equity investment into FIFA’s major competitions but was withdrawn on August 1, just days after becoming public amid intense opposition.

FIFA argued that UEFA’s court filings were essentially an extension of what it described as a campaign against the organisation and its leadership. It asked the Colorado court to defer or drop the discovery process.

One of UEFA’s requests, filed in New York, seeks documents from Josh Kushner and his investment firm Thrive Capital Management, which was involved in the FFE proposal. Kushner later defended the plan but admitted that those behind it had underestimated the political backlash.

Further discovery requests were filed in Florida and Colorado, including one involving Greg Maffei, a former Liberty Media chief executive and adviser to Infantino.

The dispute has also moved towards possible criminal proceedings. UEFA has said it is preparing a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Infantino, alleging possible financial mismanagement.

UEFA lawyers have claimed the proposal could have allowed Infantino and a small group around him to profit from FIFA’s most valuable assets. FIFA rejected the allegations and accused UEFA of pressuring European federations to oppose the plan.