FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” and conducting a “fishing expedition” after European football’s governing body asked United States courts to compel the world governing body to disclose documents linked to its abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors.
FIFA’s controversial proposal, unveiled in July, sparked widespread opposition across the football community, with UEFA even threatening to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead.
FIFA subsequently dropped the proposal following the backlash. However, UEFA is now considering legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over alleged “criminal mismanagement”.
Last week, UEFA filed requests in three US states seeking documents related to the proposed investment deal from FIFA and its partners, including Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by prospective lead investor Joshua Kushner.
UEFA has said that if it obtains the documents, it plans to file a legal complaint in Switzerland, arguing that it has received assurances that the case would meet the requirements for consideration by a Swiss court.
FIFA has now responded by asking US judges for permission to challenge UEFA’s requests.
“While these applications are styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they are little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said in court filings reviewed by AFP.
FIFA argued that UEFA has no legal basis to demand its internal documents because no criminal proceedings have been initiated in Switzerland or elsewhere.
The filings further contend that even if proceedings existed, UEFA would lack legal standing because it had not suffered any financial loss.
FIFA also accused UEFA of attempting to circumvent Swiss courts by seeking disclosure directly through US courts.
According to FIFA, releasing documents containing correspondence involving Infantino, other FIFA officials, personnel and advisers “would directly threaten FIFA’s interests and reveal sensitive and proprietary information.”
The dispute is the latest escalation in UEFA’s increasingly strained relationship with Infantino.
UEFA has openly called for changes in FIFA’s leadership and has criticised Infantino’s proposed World Cup investment model, describing it as a “shady, opaque backroom deal”.
Infantino had been expected to seek re-election for a fourth and final term next March following what FIFA regarded as a highly successful World Cup.
UEFA, however, has found support from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which have also expressed concerns over FIFA’s leadership.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is widely regarded as the most likely potential challenger to Infantino, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the race.
The three confederations have continued to apply pressure and recently joined forces to issue a strongly worded letter calling for changes to FIFA’s governance.
“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding or demanding power to be held,” they wrote.
UEFA added: “FIFA must once again be governed as an institution serving football, not operate as an instrument of individual power.”
FIFA has repeatedly rejected the allegations and criticism levelled against its leadership.
“This application is yet another step in UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” one of the governing body’s filings concluded.
