UEFA prepares criminal complaint against Infantino for mismanagement

UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged mismanagement related to his plan to create the subsidiary FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The project, which aimed to open up to 20% of its capital to private investors to market the organization's competitions, was eventually halted amid strong criticism. A document dated Thursday shows the European body's intention to take the case to Swiss courts, and it has asked a United States court for help in gathering evidence.

• UEFA is considering criminal action against Infantino under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which covers mismanagement.
• The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was valued at around 20 billion dollars and allowed up to 20% private investment.
• The European body is asking a Florida court for access to internal documents from FIFA America and the 2026 World Cup.
• UEFA argues that FIFA holds billions in reserves and liquid assets, so it did not need outside funding.
• Infantino gave federations a deadline to respond, which UEFA describes as an ultimatum and governance by intimidation.

What UEFA is asking from the Florida court

The document accessed by EFE details that UEFA has requested judicial authorization in the Southern District of Florida to access all documentation related to the project. The goal is to have those materials transferred to the Swiss justice system and used in the criminal proceedings the European body is considering.

The request includes documents and communications from FIFA America and the 2026 World Cup on the origin, development, internal discussion and public announcement of the FFE proposal. It covers FIFA's internal communications as well as exchanges with investment companies such as Thrive and BANN, along with other investors and advisors, from the earliest point the deal was discussed until the filing date.

It also asks for any valuation work tied to the proposal, including materials shared with or received from investors or advisors, as well as the governance and internal approval process. This includes documents presented to the FIFA Council, its Congress and its board at a meeting held on July 18. UEFA is also seeking authorization to issue additional subpoenas to any other party in the Southern District of Florida that may hold relevant evidence.

The mismanagement accusation against Infantino

The legal basis for the potential complaint is Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which punishes the mismanagement of others' financial interests. UEFA believes the FIFA president may have fallen under this provision by pushing the FFE project forward without the consensus of the confederations.

Infantino's efforts to exploit FIFA's institutions for his own benefit have extended beyond governance and economics, reaching the cultivation of relationships with powerful political actors, including the president of the United States, to promote his personal and institutional interests.

The 60-page filing highlights that FIFA is not in financial trouble and has no need to seek outside funding. According to the audited financial statements cited in the document, the organization holds billions of dollars in reserves and liquid financial assets, and carries no debt.

How the FIFA Forward Enterprise project came about

Infantino's initiative, which was not agreed with the confederations, involved creating FFE as a subsidiary under his ownership to manage FIFA's commercial rights and events. The project was valued at around 20 billion dollars, and the plan allowed up to 20% of its capital to be opened to private investors.

The proposal included a major increase in FIFA Forward program funding. Under the projections, each national association would go from receiving 8 million dollars in the 2023-2026 cycle to 20 million in the 2027-2030 period, totaling more than 4 billion dollars across the 211 member associations.

How the federations reacted

Once the idea leaked to the press, Infantino gave federations until September 19 to state their position. UEFA views that move as an ultimatum rather than an exercise in democratic decision-making, describing it as governance through intimidation and an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with safeguarding world football.

The alternative program Infantino promised

Alongside the FFE, the project included creating the FIFA Fast Forward program (FFFP), a new option within FIFA Forward. This would have allowed each association to access an additional 20 million dollars during the 2027-2030 period, on top of the 20 million per cycle already planned.

UEFA's earlier steps before the complaint

The dispute is not new. UEFA formally informed FIFA on July 31 that it was actively considering legal action over the plan to create the FFE subsidiary. In that communication, the European body demanded that Infantino and FIFA preserve all documents related to the project, both physical and electronic, and suspend any destruction of material, warning of possible consequences.

Frequently asked questions about UEFA's complaint against Infantino