Uefa preparing criminal legal action against Infantino

Uefa is preparing to initiate criminal legal proceedings against Fifa president Gianni Infantino, alleging "criminal mismanagement" in his handling of a plan to privatize stakes in the World Cup and other competitions. The documents reveal that Uefa has requested access to evidence and documents from Switzerland for use in the proceedings against Infantino himself and other Fifa officials accused of profiting from the controversial plan.

Uefa claims the proposal to create a new company, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), to sell off stakes at an "off-market" price for $4.2 billion, would have given a select group of investors an unfair financial interest in Fifa's commercial arm. The organization argues that Infantino pushed the plan through internal Fifa approval in a secretive meeting, with limited time for those involved to review the details.

Key Uefa officials and European football figures met in Monaco to discuss Infantino's status as the Champions League draw approached. Uefa claims that the proposed sale would have harmed its 55 member nations and aims to secure fundamental reform, restore presidential authority limits, and ensure Fifa is governed as an institution, not around one individual.

The criminal proceedings against Infantino may also extend to other Fifa officials and advisors, with Uefa applying to a court in Florida to access files held by two Fifa businesses based in Florida. The applications state that the plan was developed in secret for over a year without consulting Uefa, other confederations, or the 211 Fifa member associations.