UEFA is preparing a potential criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, seeking permission to gather evidence for claims it links to his now-shelved plan to bring private financing into the World Cup. Multiple outlets report UEFA is pursuing legal action in Switzerland, where both UEFA and FIFA are based, and is referring to allegations of “criminal mismanagement” under Swiss criminal law.
The plan described in reporting involved an attempt to sell or restructure rights tied to future World Cup earnings, valued by some outlets at around $20 billion, before FIFA moved away from the proposal. UEFA’s broader strategy is also depicted as continuing pressure on Infantino ahead of his re-election bid in March, even after UEFA suspends a threatened boycott of FIFA competitions in response to assurances from FIFA.
Outlets also highlight a dispute between the governing bodies. UEFA’s preparation of its complaint is framed by several reports as a response to what UEFA calls unfair or improper management. In parallel, FIFA accuses UEFA of launching a “smear campaign” and responds with its own legal challenge, according to reporting that UEFA filed an initial complaint in late August.
Overall, the accounts converge on UEFA preparing Swiss legal steps regarding the abandoned World Cup private-financing effort, while the organizations’ narratives differ on motive and conduct.
