{
  "id": 5430762,
  "title": "FIFA blames UEFA for 'smear campaign' against Infantino",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blames-uefa-for-smear-campaign-against-infantino",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW News",
    "slug": "dw-news",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/fifa-blames-uefa-for-smear-campaign-against-infantino/a-78896105?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "FIFA has accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign and a fishing expedition against the organization and its President, Gianni Infantino. This accusation follows a dispute between the two entities over FIFA's intention to sell a stake in its commercial rights. UEFA filed an ex parte application with a US District Court in New York to obtain testimony and documents from US-based entities, which FIFA claims is merely a press release to support UEFA's smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership. FIFA asserts that the FFE, an entity that would have linked the commercial rights to investors without proper consultation of FIFA's 211 member associations, was a move to preserve European football's dominance. Several countries have expressed their opposition to Infantino's reelection for a fourth term as president in March 2027, with UEFA and CONCACAF, along with the AFC, demanding a genuinely independent external review of the proposal.",
  "summary": "The dispute between the two football associations reached a US court, in which UEFA is looking for permission to collect evidence for criminal proceedings in Switzerland.",
  "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 English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "FIFA blames UEFA for 'smear campaign' against Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blames-uefa-for-smear-campaign-against-infantino-5432082",
        "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."
}