{
  "id": 5439348,
  "title": "Fifa blasts Uefa ‘smear campaign,’ fights World Cup plan disclosures",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blasts-uefa-smear-campaign-fights-world-cup-plan-disclosures-5439348",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:33:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/04/fifa-blasts-uefa-smear-campaign-fights-world-cup-plan-disclosures"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UEFA has accused FIFA of orchestrating a smear campaign and a fishing expedition after the European football governing body requested documents from FIFA and its partners, including a potential lead investor, Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital firm. FIFA's controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors, announced in July, sparked widespread opposition, leading UEFA to threaten a boycott unless the plan was abandoned. FIFA promptly halted the plans in response to the backlash, but UEFA is now contemplating legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino for alleged criminal mismanagement. Last week, UEFA submitted requests in three US states to disclose documents related to the plan from FIFA and partners, including the potential lead investor. If successful, UEFA intends to file a legal complaint in Switzerland, claiming the case meets the requirements for a Swiss court hearing. FIFA, however, has responded by requesting permission to challenge UEFA's requests in US courts. FIFA argues that UEFA lacks the right to demand internal documents from FIFA because no criminal proceedings have taken place in Switzerland or elsewhere. The filings also claim that even if proceedings did exist, UEFA would not have legal standing as it has not suffered any financial loss. FIFA further asserts that disclosing the documents, including correspondence involving Infantino and other FIFA personnel and advisors, would directly endanger FIFA's interests and reveal sensitive and proprietary information. UEFA has openly criticized Infantino, who had hoped to secure a fourth and final term in office next March after a highly successful World Cup. UEFA and other confederations, particularly Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have mounted a strong opposition to Infantino, with UEFA's Aleksander Ceferin ruling himself out of contention.",
  "summary": "European football's governing body prepares possible legal action against Gianni Infantino for alleged 'criminal mismanagement'.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "City AM",
        "title": "Fifa World Cup ticket ‘misbehaviour’ warning to MPs over UK’s Sporting Events Bill",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-world-cup-ticket-misbehaviour-warning-to-mps-over-uks-sporting",
        "published": "2026-09-03T08:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "FIFA accuses UEFA of ‘smear campaign’ over dropped World Cup investment plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-accuses-uefa-of-smear-campaign-over-dropped-world-cup-investment",
        "published": "2026-09-03T18:38:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "FIFA blasts UEFA 'smear campaign', fights World Cup plan disclosures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blasts-uefa-smear-campaign-fights-world-cup-plan-disclosures",
        "published": "2026-09-03T18:47:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "FIFA blasts UEFA ‘smear campaign,’ fights World Cup plan disclosures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blasts-uefa-smear-campaign-fights-world-cup-plan-disclosures-5401180",
        "published": "2026-09-03T19:43:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Fifa blasts Uefa ‘smear campaign,’ fights World Cup plan disclosures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fifa-blasts-uefa-smear-campaign-fights-world-cup-plan-disclosures-5438376",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:33:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Fifa hits back at Uefa ‘fishing expedition’ in row over Infantino and World Cup investor plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/fifa-hits-back-at-uefa-fishing-expedition-in-row-over-infantino-and",
        "published": "2026-09-04T01:30:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}