Football’s governing-body war enters new phase: FIFA accuses UEFA of disinformation campaign and election meddling

FIFA has accused UEFA of a “disinformation campaign” and of attempting to influence the presidential race in new court filings. It also described UEFA’s conduct as “in bad faith and intended to harass”.

Last month, European football’s governing body filed legal documents in the US seeking the disclosure of evidence and documents from FIFA, warning it could file a criminal complaint in Switzerland. UEFA accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” and of promoting “a fraudulent off-market price for his own personal benefit” over the now-suspended FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.

In its response on Monday evening, world football’s governing body FIFA said UEFA’s filing contained “multiple false or misleading statements about FIFA and Infantino”. “With no basis whatsoever, UEFA suggests that Mr. Infantino sought to personally benefit from the FFE proposal,” FIFA said in a filing in the Southern District of Florida, opposing UEFA’s discovery motion. UEFA’s suggestions that Mr. Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically baseless, it added. It also described UEFA’s filing as “grossly overbroad”, saying that “districts faced with similar requests have rejected such applications outright”.

UEFA has led the rebellion against the FIFA president, who is facing calls to step down from three confederations. FIFA’s FFE plan proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, sparking fierce backlash. Infantino faced calls for his resignation but claimed the project was aimed at generating additional money for the game. Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a FIFA vice-president, told Infantino to publish all documents relating to his controversial plan and called for an independent review of the FFE. Infantino will run for a fourth term in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.