FIFA hits back at UEFA over ‘smear campaign’ against Infantino

Dubai: FIFA has accused UEFA of launching a "smear campaign" against itself and its president, Gianni Infantino, amid a dispute over a cancelled plan to sell a stake in FIFA's commercial rights. Last week, UEFA filed an emergency application in a New York federal court seeking access to testimony and documents from US-based organizations that could be used in potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland.

FIFA contends that these applications are merely press releases, furthering UEFA's smear campaign against itself and Infantino. UEFA alleges that the proposal to develop FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company controlling commercial rights for the men's and women's World Cups, was created without sufficient consultation with FIFA's governing bodies and 211 member associations.

FIFA counters that UEFA opposed the FFE proposal from the outset. The plan was ultimately abandoned on July 31 due to opposition from UEFA and other regional football governing bodies. FIFA maintains that UEFA is attempting to maintain Europe's supremacy in football. Infantino, supported by African and South American confederations, has been trying to bypass confederations and gain direct backing from individual member associations.

UEFA has temporarily halted its plan to boycott FIFA competitions, allowing all qualified teams to participate in the upcoming Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. However, UEFA insists that it will work with other confederations to offer member associations a reform-focused alternative if Infantino seeks another term as FIFA president.

UEFA has also requested a "genuinely independent external review" of the failed FIFA proposal, arguing that FIFA should not self-investigate and expects acceptance of its findings by the global football community.