The global governing body of association football has accused European football’s administrative authority of orchestrating a deliberate smear campaign. The escalation deepens a bitter cross-continent dispute following a controversial and ultimately abandoned commercial proposal for the FIFA World Cup.
A Continental Clash Erupts Over Aborted World Cup Investment
Legal filings submitted by the international governing body and reviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP) state that recent procedural actions initiated by European football leaders in United States courts are “not guère plus que des communiqués de presse” (little more than press releases). According to the filings, these actions are designed to fuel ongoing hostility against federation executives and president Gianni Infantino.
The feud traces back to a July initiative that sought to open the tournament to private investors. The venture drew immediate, fierce backlash from global football stakeholders. The governing body ultimately pulled back on the plan to defuse mounting friction across the sport.
U.S. Subpoenas Target Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital
Despite the cancellation of the commercial scheme, the European football authority has pressed forward with aggressive legal measures. Reports show the continental body filed applications last week across three separate U.S. states seeking internal correspondence and financial documentation.
The requests specifically target records concerning the aborted venture and its intended private partners. Among them is Thrive Capital—a firm owned by American investor Joshua Kushner that was slated to play a central role in the commercial partnership. European officials intend to utilize these American disclosures to launch a formal legal complaint under Swiss jurisdiction, alleging “gestion déloyale” (unfair management) against the global leadership.
Jurisdictional Sparring and Defense of Internal Files
In counter-filings, the international governing body forcefully rejected the jurisdiction and motives of the European requests. The federation’s legal team argued that the European association lacks legal standing to demand internal files because no formal criminal proceeding has been initiated.
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Furthermore, the organization asserted that the continental body has suffered no direct financial injury. It also claimed that European officials have illegally bypassed Swiss courts to pursue American tribunals directly.
The international federation maintains that handing over sensitive internal documents—including email correspondence involving Infantino, staff members, and close advisors—would threaten institutional interests and expose confidential communications.
Accusations of Permanent Financial Stakes in Lucrative Assets
European officials previously characterized the abandoned initiative differently. They described it as an attempt by Infantino and a tight circle of associates, including Kushner, to secure a permanent financial stake in the sport’s most lucrative assets at the expense of member associations and the broader football community.
March Election Looming
This legal friction unfolds against a high-stakes backdrop for the global federation leadership. Infantino is campaigning to secure a fourth and final term as president during elections scheduled for next March. The vote follows an unprecedented tournament format jointly hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As legal teams spar across continents, the governance structure of international football faces mounting scrutiny ahead of the next electoral milestone.
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