FIFA has accused UEFA of conducting a ‘smear campaign’ amid an escalating dispute involving president Gianni Infantino.
The row centres on the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which involved creating a new commercial subsidiary for the governing body.
The proposal included selling a 20% stake in the subsidiary to private investors for $4.2 billion.
Thrive Eternal, led by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, discussed becoming the lead investor before FIFA eventually abandoned the proposal.
The plan faced significant opposition, with UEFA among the confederations challenging the proposed commercial arrangement.
UEFA subsequently filed legal papers in the United States seeking evidence connected with the proposed venture and Infantino’s involvement.
According to the BBC, UEFA is considering potential criminal proceedings against Infantino in Switzerland.
UEFA accused Infantino of ‘criminal mismanagement’ and promoting ‘a fraudulently off-market price’ for his own benefit.
However, FIFA has responded through a US court filing and requested that the court oppose UEFA’s application.
FIFA stressed that FFE was ‘only a proposal’ and could not have proceeded without support from most member associations.
The organisation added that the plan also required ‘the relevant approvals of the FIFA Council’ before progressing.
The governing body then directly accused its European counterpart of targeting the organisation and its leadership following opposition to FFE. FIFA said:
“Rather than participate in that democratic process, UEFA issued a press release – the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership.”
Furthermore, FIFA alleges UEFA has an economic motivation for opposing greater financial support for smaller football nations.
It claimed stronger football outside Europe would increase global competition and ‘ultimately reduces UEFA’s market power’.
Meanwhile, UEFA has requested documents and testimony from Kushner, Thrive Eternal and American financier Greg Maffei concerning the proposed investment.
The dispute now extends beyond the abandoned FFE proposal, with Infantino facing calls to stand down from three confederations.
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