NEW DELHI: UEFA has threatened legal action against FIFA following the collapse of President Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in future FIFA World Cup revenues to private investors, escalating tensions between the two governing bodies over the future of world football’s administration.
The dispute erupted after FIFA abandoned plans to raise $4.2 billion through private investors, including a New York investment firm, following widespread opposition from football stakeholders. The proposal would have offered FIFA’s 211 member associations a one time payment of $20 million each in exchange for approving the creation of a new commercial entity to manage the organisation’s revenue generating operations.
According to reports, UEFA has formally notified FIFA that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration and regulatory complaints over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. The European governing body has also instructed FIFA to preserve all documents, electronic communications and other records related to the proposal, warning that the destruction or alteration of potential evidence could have legal consequences.
The proposed restructuring would have valued FIFA’s commercial operations at $20 billion and transferred control of its major business assets to a separate entity, a move that drew strong criticism from several football confederations.
UEFA has emerged as the leading opponent of the plan, with its 55 member associations reportedly discussing a boycott of FIFA events while the proposal remained under consideration. The organisation has also questioned Infantino’s leadership, stating that he has lost the confidence of the global football community and suggesting that all options regarding FIFA’s future leadership should remain open.
Opposition has also come from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, while Infantino continues to enjoy significant backing from African football associations. South America’s CONMEBOL has largely maintained its support, with its focus remaining on FIFA’s proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams.
The controversy has cast uncertainty over Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, with nominations for the next election due in November ahead of the vote scheduled to take place in Morocco next year.
