UEFA preparing criminal proceedings against Infantino over World Cup sale plan

UEFA is preparing to bring criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Switzerland over his now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors, according to court filings and statements from the European football governing body.

In a legal application filed in U.S. federal court, UEFA has requested access to testimony and documents from FIFA entities located in Florida. The documents are intended for use in a planned criminal complaint in Swiss courts, where UEFA accuses Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

The complaint centers on Infantino's proposal to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new subsidiary that would have transferred commercial rights linked to men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup to private investors. Infantino announced the plan on July 30, shortly after this summer's World Cup concluded. The scheme would have involved selling stakes to Thrive Capital, an investment firm run by Joshua Kushner.

UEFA's legal filing, which spans 56 pages, characterizes the FFE plan as a vehicle designed to benefit Infantino personally. The organization states it is considering criminal action not only against Infantino but also against other FIFA officials and advisers involved in the proposal.

In separate applications filed in U.S. courts, UEFA has requested documents and information from Thrive Capital and other parties connected to the plan's conception and development. The requests seek materials related to the origin, internal discussion, and public announcement of the FFE proposal.

According to the legal documents, UEFA is seeking an order from a U.S. federal court in the southern Florida district for discovery of evidence. The organization also filed documents in Manhattan courts requesting discovery of potential evidence from additional parties.

The criminal complaint under Swiss law carries potential penalties of up to three years imprisonment, according to the documents reviewed by multiple news outlets.

Infantino subsequently abandoned the FFE plan following widespread criticism from UEFA and other football stakeholders. The move represents an escalation in the conflict between UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Infantino, which has intensified in recent weeks. UEFA has been pressing for Infantino's resignation since early August, though the organization reportedly agreed to withdraw threats of boycotting FIFA tournaments in exchange for certain guarantees.