UEFA's lawyers call the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan a vehicle for a small circle to profit from FIFA's assets
UEFAGoverning body of European soccer, in court papers quoted by the AP
In court papers seeking U.S. discovery, UEFA's lawyers describe the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan as a vehicle for Infantino and a small circle to take a permanent stake in and profit from FIFA's most valuable assets.
Responding to
Gianni Infantino's FIFA Forward Enterprise plan was a vehicle for Infantino and a small circle to profit from FIFA's most valuable assets, and may amount to criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
“In truth, it was a vehicle for Infantino and that small circle to acquire a permanent stake in and otherwise profit from FIFA's most valuable assets to the detriment of FIFA, its members, and other parties within the football family.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
UEFA seeks U.S. court evidence for a planned Swiss criminal complaint against Gianni Infantino; FIFA calls it harassment
UEFA asked federal courts in Florida, New York and Colorado on August 27, 2026, to order discovery for a criminal complaint it is preparing in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials, alleging criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code. The complaint concerns the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, under which investors led by Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital would have paid $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary. Infantino withdrew the plan on August 1 after a backlash led by UEFA. FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries oppose the requests, saying no Swiss proceeding exists, UEFA suffered no loss and the Florida application was made in bad faith to harass Infantino before FIFA's presidential election.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report from Monaco, republished by The Gleaner, on the discovery applications UEFA filed in U.S. courts on August 27. It quotes UEFA's court papers and a UEFA statement about the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The AP reports that UEFA's lawyers told the courts that Infantino had claimed the plan would unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has.
After the quotation
UEFA's lawyers go on to say the investors stood to acquire a permanent financial interest in FIFA's commercial arm for $4.2 billion, implying an enterprise value of about $20 billion that was neither set by an open, competitive auction nor tested by an independent valuer.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Infantino's handling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, which UEFA says may amount to criminal mismanagement. UEFA's lawyers say the plan was a vehicle for Infantino and a small circle to profit from FIFA's assets to the detriment of FIFA and its members, which condemns his handling of it.
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- Gianni Infantino, FIFA
More from this case
Read the full caseUEFA tells a Florida court it is preparing a Swiss criminal complaint against Infantino
UEFA
“UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint alleging Infantino and, potentially, the FIFA officers who developed FFE, violated Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code. It is planning to submit that complaint to the competent Swiss authorities.”Read statement
FIFA's lawyers say UEFA falsely claims Infantino sought a personal financial interest in the plan
FIFA
“falsely asserts that Mr. Infantino sought to have a personal financial interest in the FFE project.”Read statement
FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries say UEFA's criminal allegations are speculative and no prosecutor has adopted them
FIFA
“UEFA attempts to manufacture a qualifying proceeding by repackaging what it previously described as a dispute potentially giving rise to "legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints" as speculative criminal allegations that no prosecutor has adopted and that UEFA itself lacks authority to pursue.”Read statement
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- UEFA's lawyers call the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan a vehicle for a small circle to profit from FIFA's assets
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The Dispute Index. "UEFA's lawyers call the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan a vehicle for a small circle to profit from FIFA's assets". First published: 2026-10-23. Last updated: 2026-10-23. https://disputeindex.com/events/6585-in-court-papers-seeking-u-s-discovery-uefa