The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is reportedly gearing up to file criminal charges against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in connection with a controversial plan to sell portions of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors. This development emerged from legal paperwork that Sky News obtained, shedding light on UEFA’s strategy to pursue the matter through the Swiss legal system, where FIFA’s headquarters are located. According to the documents, UEFA has issued subpoenas to FIFA and to several financial institutions operating in the United States, demanding the production of records that pertain to the proposed transaction. The subpoenas are intended to uncover the details of how the deal was structured, valued, financed, and marketed.
By obtaining this information, UEFA hopes to build a case that the scheme not only violated fiduciary duties but also caused tangible damage to FIFA’s reputation, its governance framework, and its commercial partnerships. The proposed criminal proceedings are set to be launched in Switzerland, the jurisdiction that houses FIFA’s central offices. This choice of venue underscores UEFA’s intention to confront the alleged misconduct at the heart of the sport’s global governing body, rather than limiting its response to a purely administrative or political campaign aimed at removing Infantino from his position.
A legal filing reviewed by Sky News quotes UEFA’s counsel as stating: "UEFA and other interested parties are preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials and advisors for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code and such further or alternative charges as the developed factual record may support, arising out of the secretive structuring, valuation, financing, and marketing of a transaction that inflicted direct and concrete injury on FIFA's reputation, governance authority, and commercial relationships to the detriment of FIFA as well as its 211 members, including UEFA's 55 member associations." This language emphasizes that the alleged wrongdoing is not merely a breach of internal policy but could constitute a criminal offense under Swiss law, specifically relating to mismanagement and the improper handling of assets belonging to the global football community. In parallel with the Swiss filing, UEFA has also lodged a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. That complaint targets JP Morgan Chase, which acted as a financial advisor on the deal, as well as Thrive Capital, a venture‑fund firm identified as the prospective lead investor.
Thrive’s chief executive, Joshua Kushner, is noted for his familial connection to former President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner. By naming these parties in a U.S.
court, UEFA aims to pressure the financial intermediaries that facilitated the transaction and to expose any potential conflicts of interest or violations of U.S. securities regulations. UEFA’s legal strategy appears to be multi‑pronged.
While the Swiss criminal action focuses on the alleged mismanagement and reputational harm suffered by FIFA and its member associations, the U.S. lawsuit seeks to hold the banks and investors accountable for their role in structuring a deal that may have been concealed from the broader football community.
The organization is also considering bringing claims in Miami, where FIFA’s legal department is based, thereby creating additional pressure points across different jurisdictions. The broader context of this dispute is the ongoing tension between UEFA and FIFA over the governance of the sport.
UEFA, representing the interests of European national associations, has long been critical of what it perceives as a concentration of power within FIFA under Infantino’s leadership. The current move to pursue criminal charges marks a significant escalation from previous attempts to simply oust Infantino through political means. It signals that UEFA is prepared to use the full weight of the legal system to challenge any actions it believes undermine the integrity of the game. If successful, the criminal proceedings could have far‑reaching consequences.
A conviction under Article 158 could lead to fines, bans from holding office, or even imprisonment for those found guilty. Moreover, it would set a precedent for how financial transactions involving the World Cup and other major football assets are scrutinized in the future, potentially prompting stricter oversight and transparency requirements. Critics of the proposed deal argue that selling a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights to private capital threatens the sport’s public‑good character.
They contend that such a move could prioritize profit over the interests of fans, players, and national associations, and might open the door to undue influence from powerful investors. Supporters, on the other hand, claim that the infusion of private capital could provide much‑needed funding for development projects and infrastructure, especially in emerging football markets. Regardless of the ideological divide, the legal filings make clear that UEFA believes the process surrounding the proposed sale was opaque and detrimental to the collective interests of the 211 FIFA members, including UEFA’s own 55 national associations.
By invoking both Swiss criminal law and U.S. civil statutes, UEFA is attempting to create a comprehensive legal framework that addresses alleged misconduct from every possible angle.
The outcome of these proceedings remains uncertain, but the mere fact that UEFA is willing to pursue criminal charges against the head of FIFA underscores the seriousness with which it views the alleged transaction. It also highlights the growing willingness of football’s governing bodies to resort to judicial mechanisms when internal reforms and political negotiations appear insufficient.
As the case unfolds, stakeholders across the football world will be watching closely. National associations, clubs, players, sponsors, and fans alike have a vested interest in how the sport’s most lucrative events are managed and who benefits from them. The legal battle could ultimately reshape the relationship between FIFA, its member associations, and the private investors eager to capitalize on the global appeal of the World Cup.
In the meantime, UEFA continues to press its claims in multiple courts, seeking to hold accountable anyone it believes contributed to a scheme that, in its view, compromised the integrity and financial health of the sport. The organization’s actions signal a new era of legal assertiveness that could redefine power dynamics within international football.
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