{
  "id": 5412267,
  "title": "FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' over World Cup sell-off plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-over-world-cup-sell-off-plan-5412267",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T20:34:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News",
    "slug": "abc-news",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-04/fifa-accuse-uefa-of-smear-campaign/107114684"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has accused the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) of launching a smear campaign against its president, Gianni Infantino. UEFA has reportedly considered initiating criminal proceedings against Infantino and other FIFA officials over a proposal to sell commercial rights for FIFA's World Cup events. Infantino is set to run for a fourth term as FIFA president in March 2027. FIFA's lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that UEFA is waging a smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership. This comes after the proposed sale of FIFA's commercial rights was withdrawn on July 31, following opposition from UEFA and other regional governing bodies.",
  "summary": "FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a \"smear campaign\" against the global governing body and its president, Gianni Infantino. The dispute centers on a scrapped plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors through a proposed entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). UEFA had filed legal papers in the US requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from FIFA as part of potential criminal claims in Switzerland, accusing Infantino of \"criminal mismanagement\" and potentially benefiting personally from the arrangement.\n\nFIFA has rejected UEFA's allegations, arguing that the FFE proposal was only a proposal that could have only proceeded with the majority of member associations' support and relevant approvals from the FIFA Council. According to ABC News, FIFA said in a court filing that UEFA's applications are \"little more than press releases in further support of UEFA's smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership.\" UEFA alleged that the FFE proposal was developed without proper consultation with FIFA's governing bodies and 211 member associations.\n\nInfantino is up for re-election for a fourth term as FIFA president in March 2027. The dispute between the two governing bodies continues to escalate, with FIFA requesting that a US court \"oppose\" UEFA's application by the end of the month, citing \"fundamental defects\" and \"legal deficiencies\" in UEFA's argument, as reported by Yahoo Sports and KahawaTungu.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "FIFA accuses UEFA of launching 'smear campaign' against Gianni Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-launching-smear-campaign-against-gianni-infantino",
        "published": "2026-09-03T17:33:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' in fight over Infantino plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-in-fight-over-infantino-plan",
        "published": "2026-09-03T18:06:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Fifa accuses Uefa of 'smear campaign' against Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-against-infantino",
        "published": "2026-09-03T18:10:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Fifa accuses Uefa of 'smear campaign' against Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-against-infantino-5394371",
        "published": "2026-09-03T19:16:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Fifa accuses Uefa of ‘smear campaign’ against Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-against-infantino-5400088",
        "published": "2026-09-03T19:46:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "FIFA accuses UEFA of 'smear campaign' over World Cup sell-off plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-over-world-cup-sell-off-plan",
        "published": "2026-09-03T20:34:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "FIFA blames UEFA for 'smear campaign' against Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blames-uefa-for-smear-campaign-against-infantino",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:35:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}