Uefa prepares Swiss criminal complaint against Fifa chief Infantino

Uefa is preparing to file a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Fifa President Gianni Infantino over alleged financial mismanagement linked to his abandoned plan to sell a share of future World Cup revenues to private investors.

The European soccer governing body disclosed the plan in court filings made Thursday in the United States, seeking access to potential evidence concerning the proposed deal, which was scrapped after strong opposition from Uefa and other soccer officials.

The legal move puts further pressure on Infantino, who is facing his most serious crisis since becoming Fifa president a decade ago.

Uefa filed documents in a Manhattan court seeking evidence from Thrive Capital Management, a New York-based investment fund founded by Josh Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Uefa also asked a federal court in southern Florida to authorize discovery in a foreign proceeding involving Fifa, whose offices are located in Coral Gables, near Miami.

Under the proposal announced in late July, Thrive and Kushner were expected to be key investors in a deal under which Fifa would receive $4.2 billion in exchange for a 20% stake in a subsidiary responsible for the governing body's commercial events, including the World Cup.

In a 56-page filing, Uefa lawyers said they were considering a criminal case against Infantino and potentially other Fifa officials under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which covers criminal mismanagement.

The filing questioned the valuation of the proposed deal, suggesting the $4.2 billion price may have been set at an artificially low level and could have benefited Infantino personally.

Fifa is expected to have about $5 billion in cash reserves after the 2026 World Cup in North America, with its revenue reaching a record $15 billion during the 2023-26 commercial cycle.

Uefa questioned why Fifa needed outside investors to increase funding for development projects given its strong financial position.

Infantino abandoned the proposed investment deal on  1 August following intense criticism led by European soccer officials.

Uefa seeks preservation of evidence

Uefa had warned Fifa on 03 August not to destroy, conceal or alter any materials related to the proposed transaction.

The latest court action was disclosed to Uefa's member associations in Monaco shortly before the Champions League draw began Thursday.

In its filing, Uefa alleged that the investment proposal could have allowed Infantino and a small group around him to secure a long-term financial interest in Fifa's most valuable commercial assets at the expense of Fifa, its members and the wider soccer community.

Uefa also questioned the valuation of Fifa's commercial arm, saying it was not determined through an open competitive process or independently assessed.

Thrive Capital declined to comment, while Fifa was approached for a response.

Infantino's future under scrutiny

The controversy has also raised questions about Infantino's political future at Fifa.

He had been widely expected to secure another four-year term in the Fifa presidential election scheduled for March 2027. However, several soccer federations, particularly in Europe, have withdrawn their support, while some have called for him to resign.

Uefa said it would work with other continental confederations to present a credible alternative if Infantino seeks another term.

The European body said such an alternative should be committed to integrity, accountability, development and meaningful institutional reform.