Fifa accuses Uefa of 'smear campaign' against Infantino
Fifa files court papers in the US opposing Uefa's document requests, labeling the actions as a smear campaign after a $4.2bn deal collapsed.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Fifa lodged court filings in the US requesting permission for document access to be deferred or opposed by month-end.
- Uefa is accused of launching a weeks-long smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership.
- The dispute follows the collapse of a controversial $4.2 billion commercial subsidiary investment plan.
- Uefa has also sought testimony and documents from investor Joshua Kushner and adviser Greg Maffei.
Global football politics has escalated further as European football's governing body previously filed legal papers in the United States requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa as part of potential criminal claims in Switzerland. Uefa has also been preparing separate criminal legal action against Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
In response, world governing body Fifa has now submitted its own court filings in the US, seen by the BBC, asking the court to defer or oppose Uefa's access to documents by the end of the month. Fifa's filing asserts that Uefa is seeking discovery in aid of a foreign criminal proceeding that does not exist and that Uefa admittedly lacks the authority to initiate.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The filing further criticizes Uefa's public approach, stating that rather than participate in democratic processes, Uefa issued a press release that marked the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership. This power struggle centers around a collapsed initiative involving a 20% stake in a new Fifa commercial subsidiary, backed by a massive investment proposal.
"While we stand behind the motivations of FFE, we failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football, and the lengths some would go to… had we known what this would devolve into, we would not have gotten involved."
Uefa has also petitioned a New York court to approve legal documents ordering testimony and records from venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, whose firm Thrive Eternal was set to be the lead investor. Thrive had held talks with Infantino regarding the $4.2bn (£3.1bn) venture before it was scrapped. Additionally, Uefa requested documents from American financier Greg Maffei, who served as a key adviser on the deal.
The legal tug-of-war between Fifa and Uefa highlights deep governance and financial tensions within international football. By utilizing US federal courts for evidence discovery, Uefa is applying intense pressure on Fifa leadership, which already faces calls to step down from multiple confederations amid ongoing divisions over commercial strategies and organizational control.
While Uefa maintains that neither Kushner nor Maffei are anticipated defendants in legal proceedings, it claims the pair discussed the FFE concept in July 2025, and that Infantino had been discussing the underlying concept with Kushner for nearly a year prior. Insiders tell BBC Sport that Uefa believes Fifa should transparently disclose the documents if there is nothing to hide. Meanwhile, the future leadership of Fifa remains a subject of intense scrutiny as internal rebellion persists.
Source: BBC Sport
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