FIFA UEFA dispute has intensified after world football’s governing body accused UEFA of spreading “misinformation” as it seeks access to documents linked to Gianni Infantino’s abandoned proposal to bring private investment into parts of FIFA’s commercial operations.
The dispute is now playing out in a Florida court, where FIFA has opposed UEFA’s attempt to compel the release of documents relating to the proposal. In its response, FIFA accused UEFA of making “numerous false or misleading statements” about both the organisation and its president, while also alleging that the document request was intended in part to influence next year’s FIFA presidential election.
The disagreement stems from a proposal unveiled by Infantino in July to establish a commercial subsidiary responsible for some of FIFA’s most valuable competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.
The plan involved the FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, initiative and would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company connected to the commercial operations of major FIFA events. The proposal quickly faced resistance and was subsequently withdrawn after generating significant criticism within football.
FIFA has now pushed back against several claims made by UEFA during its efforts to obtain related documents. Among the allegations specifically rejected by FIFA was the suggestion that Infantino had sought to personally benefit from the FFE proposal.
FIFA’s court filing described UEFA’s approach as part of a broader campaign against Infantino. The organisation also accused European football’s governing body of attempting to use the dispute to influence the presidential election, in which Infantino is seeking another term.
UEFA has emerged as one of the most prominent institutional critics of Infantino. The European governing body represents national associations from across the continent, including World Cup holders Spain, France, England and Germany, and has publicly opposed Infantino’s continued leadership of FIFA.
UEFA has not yet responded to FIFA’s latest allegations. AFP said it had contacted UEFA for comment.
The dispute comes as FIFA prepares for its next presidential election, scheduled for March. FIFA confirmed this month that Infantino will seek another term, despite the controversy surrounding the abandoned investment proposal.
The issue has also become part of a wider discussion about how FIFA manages and distributes its financial resources. In a letter sent this week to the organisation’s 211 member associations, Infantino indicated that he would support making a larger portion of FIFA’s financial reserves available to its members.
“I would support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered,” Infantino wrote in the letter, seen by AFP.
Infantino has continued to defend the original commercial proposal, arguing that the plan to sell stakes linked to World Cup commercial rights was intended to generate additional funds for football rather than provide a personal financial benefit.
The court dispute therefore extends beyond the fate of a proposal that has already been abandoned. It has brought questions over FIFA’s commercial strategy, its relationship with European football and the organisation’s leadership into sharper focus ahead of the presidential election.
For now, the competing positions remain clear. FIFA says UEFA has misrepresented the FFE proposal and is using the legal process for purposes beyond obtaining documents. UEFA’s position on those allegations has yet to be publicly provided in response to FIFA’s latest filing.
