European football’s governing body UEFA has taken unprecedented legal steps, filing an application to access U.S. court documents as part of an impending criminal complaint in Switzerland targeting FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The escalation follows Infantino’s controversial proposal—scrapped earlier this month—to form “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE), a commercial entity designed to sell off private stakes in major FIFA tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. UEFA has accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement,” asserting in court filings that the proposed valuations were deliberately understated and offered at a “fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit”.
In a official press statement, UEFA confirmed the collective action of its member nations:
“Those present unanimously mandated the UEFA president and administration to pursue every available institutional, political, and legal avenue necessary to secure fundamental reform, restore proper limits on presidential authority and ensure that FIFA is once again governed appropriately.”
UEFA is seeking files from FIFA entities based in Florida as well as New York-based Thrive Capital, alleging the plan caused concrete financial and reputational harm to FIFA’s 211 member associations. Infantino, who faces mounting calls to resign, has not yet issued a formal public response to the new Swiss criminal filing threats.