The ongoing dispute between world football's governing body FIFA and European football's UEFA has escalated to a US courtroom, with UEFA seeking permission to gather evidence for potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland. FIFA has lashed out at UEFA, accusing it of launching a "smear campaign" and a "fishing expedition" against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino.
The conflict stems from FIFA's controversial plan to sell a stake in its commercial rights, particularly through the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) entity, which would have managed World Cup-related commercial rights. UEFA submitted an ex parte application to the US District Court in New York to obtain testimony and documents from US-based entities, which could be used in criminal proceedings in Switzerland, where both organizations are headquartered.
In documents reviewed by Reuters, FIFA dismissed UEFA's application as "little more than press releases" aimed at supporting UEFA's "smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership." UEFA, however, argues that the FFE was developed without adequate consultation with FIFA's 211 member associations and its own governing bodies, and has threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan proceeds, affecting both men's and women's tournaments.
FIFA counters that UEFA, representing European football, is trying to scupper the proposal to preserve European dominance. The controversy has put immense pressure on Infantino, with several countries signaling they will not support his re-election for a fourth term in March 2027. UEFA, along with CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, is demanding Infantino's resignation, while only the South American and African confederations continue to back him.
UEFA has also called for a "genuinely independent external review" of how the proposal came about, stating, "FIFA cannot investigate itself and expect the football community to simply accept its conclusions." The legal battle in the US marks a new chapter in this high-stakes power struggle, with implications for the governance of global football.
Source: www.dw.com