UEFA Seeks U.S. Evidence for Planned Criminal Case Against FIFA President Infantino

A major power struggle at the top of world football has escalated after UEFA asked U.S. courts for documents and testimony that it says could support a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The move relates to the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, an investment plan that was abandoned after strong opposition from UEFA and other football bodies.

UEFA's legal action does not mean Infantino has been found guilty of any wrongdoing. The European governing body is seeking evidence as it considers whether to pursue criminal proceedings under Swiss law.

UEFA Turns to U.S. Courts for Evidence

According to court filings, UEFA has asked a U.S. federal court for permission to obtain documents and testimony from FIFA-related entities based in Florida.

The requested material could include communications and records concerning the development, structure, valuation and internal handling of the FFE proposal.

UEFA has also sought information connected to Thrive Capital, the investment firm led by Joshua Kushner, which was involved in the proposed transaction.

The evidence is intended for potential proceedings in Switzerland.

What Was the FIFA Forward Enterprise Plan?

The controversy centres on FIFA's proposal to establish a new commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise.

The plan envisaged selling a 20% stake in the new company to private investors for around $4.2 billion. The company would have been linked to the commercial rights of major FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup.

FIFA had presented the proposal as a way of generating additional money for football development around the world.

Infantino argued that the plan could increase investment in football infrastructure and provide greater support for FIFA's 211 member associations.

Why Did UEFA Oppose It?

UEFA and other football authorities strongly objected to the proposal.

UEFA has alleged that the plan was developed with insufficient consultation and that the proposed valuation of FIFA's commercial assets was far too low.

Its court filings accuse Infantino and a small group of advisers and investors of developing the proposal without properly involving FIFA's Council, confederations and member associations.

UEFA says such conduct could potentially amount to "criminal mismanagement" under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code. These are allegations made by UEFA and have not been established by a court.

Infantino Abandoned the Proposal

The FFE proposal ultimately collapsed following widespread criticism.

On July 31, 2026, Infantino announced that the project would not proceed, saying that it had created divisions that were no longer compatible with its original objective.

FIFA maintained that the proposal had been intended to strengthen football development and that any final decision would have required consultation with member associations and other stakeholders.

The withdrawal, however, did not end the dispute.

UEFA subsequently continued pushing for an independent examination of how the proposal was created and handled.

A Bigger Battle Over FIFA Governance

The legal dispute is part of a much wider disagreement between UEFA and FIFA leadership.

UEFA has argued that the controversy demonstrates the need for stronger checks and balances within FIFA and greater transparency around major financial decisions.

The organisation had previously considered stronger measures, including a potential boycott of FIFA competitions. That threat was suspended after FIFA formally abandoned the FFE proposal, but UEFA made clear that its broader concerns had not disappeared.

FIFA, meanwhile, has continued to support Infantino.

Following a meeting in Rabat in August, FIFA said its leadership reaffirmed support for the president and said internal processes surrounding the withdrawn proposal should be improved.

What Happens Next?

The U.S. court requests are primarily about obtaining evidence, not determining whether Infantino committed a crime.

If UEFA succeeds in obtaining the requested information, it could use the material in a potential Swiss complaint.

The eventual decision on whether any criminal case proceeds would belong to the relevant Swiss authorities.

The situation could therefore develop over several stages: U.S. evidence gathering, a possible complaint in Switzerland, assessment by Swiss authorities and, only if appropriate, further legal proceedings.

Infantino’s Future Also Under Pressure

The dispute could have political consequences beyond the legal process.

Infantino remains FIFA president and is expected to seek another term in the 2027 FIFA presidential election.

UEFA's confrontation with FIFA leadership has therefore become both a governance dispute and a battle over the future direction of world football.

For now, however, it is important to distinguish allegations from proven wrongdoing.

UEFA is seeking evidence and preparing a possible criminal complaint. No court has established that Infantino committed criminal mismanagement.

What is clear is that the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprise has opened one of the most serious governance confrontations between FIFA and UEFA in recent years.

And with UEFA now pursuing evidence through U.S. courts, the dispute is moving from football politics into a potentially significant legal battle.

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