Fifa accuses Uefa of 'misinformation campaign'

Fifa has accused Uefa of spreading false information and trying to sway the presidential race within its organization, according to newly released court documents. Last month, Uefa filed legal papers in the United States requesting the disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa, threatening to bring a criminal complaint in Switzerland if necessary.

Uefa accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of mismanaging the organization and engaging in fraudulent dealings, specifically concerning the now-abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme. In response, Fifa stated that Uefa's filing contained "numerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and Infantino." They argued that Uefa's claims that Infantino sought personal gain from the FFE proposal are entirely baseless.

Fifa also described Uefa's filing as "farce[ul]ly overbroad," noting that courts have previously rejected similar applications. BBC Sport has reached out to Uefa for further comment. It is believed that if Fifa has nothing to hide, it should disclose the documents and expedite the legal process. Uefa has been leading a rebellion against Infantino, who is facing pressure to step down from three confederations.

The Fifa FFE plan involved selling stakes in major competitions, which sparked widespread opposition. Infantino faced calls for his resignation but maintained that the project was meant to generate additional revenue for the sport. Recently, the Football Association's chair, Debbie Hewitt, urged Infantino to release all documents related to his controversial plan and called for an independent review of FFE.

Infantino is eligible to seek re-election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until November 18th to identify an alternative candidate.