FIFA has formally accused European football governing body UEFA of orchestrating a coordinated smear campaign against its president, Gianni Infantino, in connection with recently unsealed U.S. court filings regarding an abandoned $4.2 billion plan to commercialize the World Cup.
The allegations were detailed in legal responses filed by FIFA in United States courts where the world governing body dismissed UEFAâs recent public statements as thinly veiled press releases designed to damage Infantinoâs reputation and undermine his leadership.
FIFA argues that UEFAâs actions are not grounded in substantive legal arguments but are instead tactical media operations aimed at attacking the FIFA presidency.
The dispute stems from a previously undisclosed financial blueprint to overhaul the World Cupâs commercial structure, which was ultimately shelved. The proposed $4.2 billion valuation and associated investment terms became a point of contention after they surfaced in ongoing U.S. litigation, prompting UEFA to issue a series of critical statements. FIFA contends that these responses constitute a deliberate and premeditated effort to misrepresent the proposal and besmirch Infantino personally.
In its court submission, FIFA maintained that the commercialization plan was thoroughly vetted and lawfully considered by its executive committee before being scrapped for business reasons. The organization further asserted that UEFAâs interventions are little more than public relations stunts that have no bearing on the legal merits of the underlying court cases.
FIFA has called on the courts to disregard what it terms UEFAâs politically motivated interference. As of the latest developments, UEFA has not issued an official formal response to the specific accusations contained within FIFAâs recent submissions. The legal proceedings remain active in the relevant U.S. jurisdictions.
