
Fifa accuses Uefa of âÂÂmisinformation campaignâ against Gianni Infantino
Uefa accused of trying to influence presidential election
Fifa court filing denies claim of FFE undervaluation
Fifa accused Uefa of waging a âÂÂmisinformation campaignâ and trying to influence the race for its presidency as world footballâÂÂs governing body urged a US â court to reject a discovery â request linked to a âÂÂcontroversial investment proposal.
Last month Uefa asked a US federal court for permission to obtain testimony and documents for use in a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland against FifaâÂÂs president, Gianni Infantino, â over an abandoned plan to transfer World Cup commercial rights into a subsidiary called Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).
In its response to the filing Fifa said UefaâÂÂs brief contained âÂÂnumerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and â InfantinoâÂÂ.
âÂÂWith no basis whatsoever, Uefa suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal,â Fifa said in a filing in âÂÂthe southern district of Florida, opposing UefaâÂÂs motion for discovery.
âÂÂAs âÂÂexplained, the FFE plan was subject âÂÂto approval by both the Fifa member associations and Fifa council, and FFE would have been subject to oversight by both groups within âÂÂFifa. UefaâÂÂs suggestions that Mr Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically without merit.âÂÂ
Uefa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Uefa alleged Infantino developed the proposal in secret with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing FifaâÂÂs normal governance processes and failing to consult FifaâÂÂs council, regional confederations or member associations.
The filing asked a US court to authorise discovery from Fifa (Americas), Inc and FWC2026 US, Inc, two Florida-based Fifa entities.
Uefa said in the legal filing that investors âÂÂwould have paid $4.2bn (ã3.2bn) for a stake in FFE, valuing the business at about $20bn. It added that the valuation significantly undervalued FifaâÂÂs commercial rights and alleged it was not subjected to an open auction âÂÂor tested by an independent valuer.
âÂÂUefa, whether deliberately or through ignorance, conflates equity value with enterprise value,â Fifa said. âÂÂIt is undisputed that FFEâÂÂs âÂÂinitial equity valuationâ â meaning âÂÂthe value that remains for the shareholders after any debts have been paid offâ â was $20bn.
âÂÂMaterials distributed to FifaâÂÂs member associations reveal that FFEâÂÂs total âÂÂenterprise valueâ on the other hand â meaning the âÂÂentire value of the businessâ â was well over $30bn ⦠Indeed, FFEâÂÂs enterprise value was well in â excess of twice the equity value, and therefore far above the value Uefa says would be âÂÂfair.âÂÂ
The FFE project was abandoned âÂÂin July after opposition from confederations, including Uefa, âÂÂConcacaf â the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation â and the Asian Football Confederation, over a lack of consultation, with the dispute fuelling demands for âÂÂchanges to FifaâÂÂs governance.
Last week âÂÂInfantino wrote to all 211 âÂÂmember associations proposing an independent âÂÂreview of the governing bodyâÂÂs decision-making processes. He is up for re-election in March, with Fifa alleging that UefaâÂÂs legal filings were an attempt to influence that election.
âÂÂJust before FifaâÂÂs election, Uefa filed this 1782 Application (and three others) spreading misinformation regarding Mr Infantino,â Fifa said. âÂÂThis court should reject any attempt to influence FifaâÂÂs presidential election based on these grounds.âÂÂ
