FIFA has launched a forceful counterattack against European football authorities, accusing them of orchestrating a campaign of "harassment" directed at president Gianni Infantino and attempting to manipulate the forthcoming presidential election through what it characterises as deliberate "misinformation" regarding the World Cup privatisation scheme.
The organisation's response comes in a court filing submitted in Miami, which Sky News has reviewed, wherein FIFA seeks to prevent UEFA from obtaining evidence connected to the failed attempt to offload World Cup shares to private capital investors.
In their legal submission, FIFA's attorneys contend:
"UEFA's conduct demonstrates that its application was made in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment."
UEFA has demanded access to comprehensive documentation surrounding the shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, asserting that such materials could form the basis of legal action against Mr Infantino on grounds of criminal mismanagement, with allegations that he deliberately undervalued the tournaments to secure personal financial advantage.
FIFA's legal team has rejected these suggestions outright, stating:
"With no basis whatsoever, UEFA suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal."
The escalating row arrives at a critical juncture for Mr Infantino, who is preparing to contest re-election in March. UEFA has already withdrawn its backing but has not yet put forward an alternative candidate ahead of the November submission deadline.
The timing of UEFA's legal manoeuvres has not gone unnoticed by FIFA's lawyers, who argue in their court filing:
"Just before FIFA's election, UEFA filed this application [and three others] spreading misinformation regarding Mr Infantino. This court should reject any attempt to influence FIFA's presidential election based on these grounds."
This dispute represents a significant escalation in the broader conflict between FIFA and its European counterpart. Infantino has faced mounting pressure following revelations that FIFA insiders and football confederations united against his World Cup private investment plan, with senior figures reportedly already evaluating potential successors.
The confrontation extends beyond UEFA's actions alone. UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC have signalled their readiness to pursue more aggressive tactics in their campaign against Infantino, with rival competitions and governance boycotts among the options under consideration.
The World Cup privatisation proposal that sparked this crisis has proven deeply controversial across football's governing bodies. The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and the push for external World Cup investment triggered fierce opposition from UEFA and CONCACAF, even as FIFA defended the commercial rationale behind the initiative.
