FIFA accuses UEFA of ‘smear campaign’ against Gianni Infantino

FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” against president Gianni Infantino as the bitter row over a scrapped $4.2bn investment deal escalates into a legal battle.

UEFA has accused FIFA and Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” over the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), a plan that would have sold a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary to US investment firm Thrive Capital.

But in court filings in the United States, FIFA has hit back, arguing UEFA is seeking documents to support a foreign criminal case that does not exist.

“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,” FIFA said.

The governing body also dismissed UEFA’s legal arguments as suffering from a “fundamental defect” and “legal deficiencies”.

The proposed deal would have seen Thrive Capital, led by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, invest $4.2bn in the new FIFA entity. The plan was abandoned within days of being publicly revealed in July after triggering fierce opposition across world football.

FIFA had argued that the deal would dramatically increase funding for its 211 member associations, raising payments for the 2027-30 cycle from £5.9m to £14.7m per association.

UEFA claims the deal was struck at an artificially low valuation and alleges FIFA’s World Cup commercial assets were priced at around £15bn without an open auction or independent valuation.

It also alleges that Infantino discussed the concept with Kushner for almost a year before the final terms were agreed and claims the FIFA president failed to properly consult the organisation’s governing bodies.

UEFA has asked a New York court to order the disclosure of documents and testimony from Kushner and his company Thrive, as well as American financier Greg Maffei, a key adviser to the proposed deal.

Neither Kushner nor Maffei is expected to be a defendant, UEFA says, but their evidence could shed light on how the controversial proposal was developed and valued.

FIFA, however, claims UEFA has an ulterior economic motive for opposing the scheme, arguing that giving smaller football nations greater financial resources would strengthen global competition and potentially weaken UEFA’s market dominance.

UEFA has declined to comment, although sources have indicated that its position is simple: if FIFA has nothing to hide, it should release the documents and allow the legal process to move forward.

The row marks a dramatic escalation in UEFA’s opposition to Infantino, who is facing calls to resign from three continental confederations.

Kushner has also expressed regret over becoming involved in the deal, saying the group “failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football” and would not have participated had it known how the controversy would unfold.

What began as a failed investment proposal has now become a high-stakes battle over FIFA’s finances, governance and Infantino’s leadership.