International soccer’s governing body has escalated its feud with its European counterpart, formally accusing UEFA of harassment, spreading misinformation, and attempting to improperly sway an upcoming election.
The Miami Court Filing and Private Equity Stance
The allegations surfaced in a legal filing submitted to the U.S. District Court in Miami. The document was obtained by the German press agency dpa and subsequently cited by multiple media outlets.
At the center of the dispute is FIFA’s push to block a discovery application filed by UEFA. The European body wants to preserve documents linked to controversial and ultimately abandoned investment plans championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, which sought to sell private equity stakes in the World Cup.
Swiss Courts and Allegations of Bad Faith
UEFA petitioned the U.S. federal court to secure evidence for potential criminal proceedings that could be brought against Infantino before Swiss courts. FIFA’s legal team fired back sharply.
“UEFA’s conduct proves that its application was filed in bad faith and with the intent to harass,” lawyers representing FIFA wrote in the court document. They added that the European governing body’s filing contained numerous false and misleading statements, including baseless assertions that Infantino attempted to personally enrich himself.
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The March 2027 Presidential Election
FIFA asserted that the timing of the legal confrontation ahead of the presidential election in March 2027 is deliberate. The organization argued that misinformation regarding Infantino has been circulated specifically to sway voters.
“This court should reject any attempt to influence the FIFA presidential election on this basis,” FIFA’s legal team argued.
Governance Reforms and Infantino’s Fourth Term
Infantino, 56, has consistently maintained that he has not violated any applicable laws. The Swiss administrator faced intense pressure over the summer regarding the World Cup investor proposal, and his management style has drawn sharp criticism from various segments of the global soccer community.
To ease mounting pressure, Infantino recently offered critics an opening for dialogue on potential governance reforms. He announced plans for an independent external review of FIFA governance alongside consultations aimed at strengthening internal decision-making processes, including a review of the president’s role.
Despite resistance and calls from critics—led by UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin—for him to step down, Infantino made it clear that he intends to run for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 2027.
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