FIFA Moves to Block UEFA’s U.S. Document Search Over Infantino Plan

FIFA has moved to halt UEFA’s attempts to obtain documents connected to Gianni Infantino’s abandoned plan to sell minority interests in World Cup-related commercial rights, accusing the European governing body of using U.S. court filings to damage FIFA and its president.

FIFA seeks to pause Colorado discovery case

In a motion filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Colorado, FIFA asked to intervene in UEFA’s discovery application and requested that the process either be postponed or dismissed. FIFA said UEFA’s legal applications were being used as part of a wider public campaign against the organisation and its leadership, rather than as a straightforward evidence-gathering exercise.

UEFA lodged discovery requests in three U.S. jurisdictions last week as it pursued material linked to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE. The body said the documents could assist preparations for possible criminal action in Switzerland.

• The Southern District of New York application seeks records from Josh Kushner and his firm, Thrive Capital Management.
• A Florida filing relates to evidence connected with FIFA’s operational base for the 2026 World Cup.
• The Colorado case concerns Greg Maffei, a former Liberty Media chief executive and an adviser to Infantino.

FIFA argued that UEFA’s application had a basic legal flaw because it sought U.S. disclosure for a foreign criminal proceeding that had not yet been opened. FIFA also maintained that UEFA did not have the power to begin such a prosecution itself.

Dispute centres on withdrawn World Cup investment proposal

The FFE project envisaged private-equity investment worth $4.2 billion in exchange for stakes connected to the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. Thrive was involved in the proposal, which was withdrawn on Aug. 1, only days after becoming public amid strong opposition.

UEFA’s court submissions alleged that the plan was not simply intended to generate more revenue for football. Its lawyers said Infantino had presented the project as a means of unlocking FIFA’s commercial opportunities, but argued that it would instead have given him and a small group around him a lasting financial interest in FIFA’s most valuable assets, at the expense of member associations and other football stakeholders.

FIFA rejected that characterisation and said UEFA’s resistance was driven by a desire to stop smaller nations acquiring the financial resources needed to challenge Europe’s established powers. It also accused UEFA of pressuring European national associations into opposing the FFE proposal.

Kushner expresses regret over political fallout

Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, said he still supported the intentions behind FFE but conceded that Thrive had misjudged the reaction within international football.

• He said the firm had not understood the political forces surrounding the game or how far opponents of the plan would go.
• Kushner said Thrive had historically sought to work with all relevant parties and would not have joined the project had it foreseen the eventual dispute.
• Last month, Kushner agreed to buy the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers alongside Bob Iger.

UEFA raises prospect of an election challenge

Separately, UEFA called for an outside and independent examination of how the FFE proposal originated. It also indicated that it would seek support from other confederations if Infantino stands for re-election at next year’s FIFA Congress.

UEFA said it wanted FIFA member associations to have an alternative candidate committed to institutional integrity, accountability, development and meaningful reform, setting up the prospect of a broader political contest beyond the current U.S. court proceedings.