Fifa accuses Uefa of ‘smear campaign’ against Infantino

Fifa has accused Uefa of launching a "smear campaign" against it and its leadership in a dispute over president Gianni Infantino's cancelled plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup. Last week, Uefa filed legal papers in the US requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa in connection with possible criminal claims in Switzerland.

In a sharp escalation, Uefa alleged that Infantino engaged in "criminal mismanagement" and "fraudulently undervalued" the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan for his personal gain. However, Fifa has now responded with court filings in the US, objecting to Uefa's request for discovery and claiming Uefa lacks the authority to initiate a foreign criminal proceeding.

Fifa argues that Uefa's "economic motivation" is to prevent smaller countries from competing financially with European clubs. The governing body claims that if soccer grows in developing nations, global competition would increase, ultimately diminishing Uefa's market power and reducing the appeal of its tournaments.

Uefa has declined to comment, but insiders suggest that if Fifa has nothing to hide, it should promptly provide the requested documents to expedite the legal process. The dispute has drawn opposition from three confederations calling for Infantino's resignation.

Uefa has also sought court approval in New York to compel testimony and documents from venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, who was the lead investor in FFE, and his company Thrive Eternal. Kushner later expressed regret over the aborted plan, acknowledging they failed to grasp the "political dynamics" of global football.

Uefa has asked for the disclosure of documents from American financier Greg Maffei, a key adviser to the deal. While neither Kushner nor Maffei are considered defendants, Uefa claims they discussed the FFE concept in July 2025 and Infantino had been broaching the idea for nearly a year prior to signing the terms sheet.