Musk lawyer Spiro to represent Kushner in World Cup sell-off legal row

Alex Spiro, a prominent US attorney with a roster of high-profile clients including Elon Musk and Jay-Z, has pledged to defend Joshua Kushner in a legal dispute surrounding FIFA's proposed World Cup sell-off. Spiro's legal prowess was recently demonstrated when he successfully defended Musk in a high-profile "Pedo Guy" defamation trial and had Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charges dismissed. He also represented Jay-Z in various commercial and civil disputes.

Quinn Emanuel partner Spiro will now take on the case of Kushner and his company Thrive Capital after the European football governing body UEFA filed a lawsuit against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino. The controversy stems from Kushner's plan to sell stakes in a new subsidiary to outside investors, including Thrive. UEFA has submitted discovery requests in US courts, demanding communications between FIFA officials, Infantino, and Kushner, as it evaluates a potential complaint to Swiss courts regarding alleged "criminal mismanagement."

The filing reveals that UEFA aims to establish who at FIFA and beyond knew about the plan and if anyone stood to gain from it. Swiss counsel has confirmed that the proceeding is within reasonable contemplation for Swiss law and that UEFA has the standing to file a criminal complaint against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement.

FIFA and Infantino have been embroiled in a crisis since the revelation of the plan to raise $4.2 billion by selling stakes in FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would manage the commercial rights to the World Cup. UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF have led the opposition, and while FIFA and Infantino have abandoned the sell-off plan, they are still pushing for Kushner to relinquish his position.