UEFA considers criminal charges against Gianni Infantino over failed World Cup sell-off plan

UEFA is preparing to file criminal charges in Switzerland against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over alleged criminal mismanagement linked to the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project. The plan, scrapped last month, sought to sell private investors a 20% stake in the World Cup's commercial business for $4.2 billion. A 56-page court document filed by UEFA's lawyers in a US federal court reveals the European governing body considers that figure an absurdly low enterprise value and questions the transparency of the entire operation.

• UEFA is preparing to file criminal charges in Switzerland against Infantino for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
• The FFE plan aimed to sell 20% of the World Cup's commercial rights for $4.2 billion, a valuation UEFA calls absurdly low.
• The court document accuses Infantino and a small circle of seeking permanent benefits from FIFA's most valuable assets through an opaque process.
• The main planned investor was Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
• UEFA suspended its World Cup boycott threat after receiving assurances that FIFA would not attempt to sell stakes in its competitions again.

Why UEFA is accusing Infantino of criminal mismanagement

UEFA's court filing argues that the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was not the product of an open and competitive auction, nor was it evaluated by any independent appraiser. According to the European governing body, this allowed the deal to remain secret and caused direct harm to FIFA's reputation, institutional authority and commercial relationships. The impact, it adds, also extended to the 211 member associations, including its 55 European members.

UEFA goes a step further, claiming the operation would have served as a mechanism for Infantino and a small circle to acquire a permanent stake and profit from some of FIFA's most valuable assets. The organization's lawyers are considering charges of criminal mismanagement, plus additional or alternative charges that may emerge from the evidence gathered. FIFA, based in Zurich, declined to comment.

Joshua Kushner's role in the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan

The project's main investor was Joshua Kushner, founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital and brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The involvement of an investor so closely connected to Washington's political circles added another layer of controversy to a deal UEFA already considered opaque from its inception.

The plan collapsed within days last month after UEFA threatened to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. It was precisely that pressure from the European governing body that forced the withdrawal of the proposal and put Infantino on the defensive.

What UEFA is seeking from FIFA Americas and FWC2026 US in court

The court document was filed in Florida, where two FIFA-linked entities are based: FIFA Americas and FWC2026 US. As part of the process, UEFA is requesting documents and communications from both organizations to clarify the origin, development, internal debate and public announcement of the FFE proposal, including conversations held within FIFA itself.

Specifically, the European governing body seeks to determine whether Infantino and other officials breached FIFA statutes or bypassed its governance rules by keeping the proposal outside the knowledge of the FIFA Council and key stakeholders, including UEFA itself. It also aims to establish whether this was done to obtain an illicit benefit for themselves or for others.

The World Cup boycott threat that sank Infantino's plan

UEFA suspended its boycott threat on Wednesday after saying it received assurances that FIFA would not attempt again to sell stakes in its competitions. Even so, the European governing body had already warned Infantino that it was considering legal action, arbitration and complaints to regulatory bodies over the failed FFE project.

Infantino has remained at the helm of FIFA after apologizing for the mistakes made around the proposal. Kevin Lamour, the organization's former chief operating officer, left his post after criticizing the FFE project and saying FIFA staff had been deceived by their president. UEFA, which led calls for Infantino's resignation, said it had lost confidence in him and described the proposal as a murky, opaque, closed-door deal.

What could happen to Infantino and FIFA in the coming months

A potential criminal complaint in Switzerland would open a major legal front for the FIFA president. Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code punishes disloyal or criminal management of another's financial interests, a charge UEFA considers applicable to the handling of the FFE operation. If the complaint is filed, Swiss authorities would have to decide whether to open a formal investigation.

Meanwhile, FIFA remains silent on UEFA's complaint and on whether it will take additional internal measures. The outcome of this case could shape Infantino's future at the helm of the organization, especially if US courts accept the document requests and new evidence emerges about how the failed World Cup commercial rights sale was conceived.