FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries say UEFA's criminal allegations are speculative and no prosecutor has adopted them
FIFAFIFA's U.S. subsidiaries, in a memorandum filed by their lawyers in federal court in New York
FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries tell the New York court that UEFA is trying to manufacture a qualifying proceeding by recasting its dispute with FIFA as criminal allegations that no prosecutor has adopted.
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.
“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.”
Original text
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
Original text
About this source
The 21-page memorandum FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asking to intervene in one of UEFA's discovery applications. It argues that UEFA's requests fail the requirements of the federal discovery statute, 28 U.S.C. 1782, and that no Swiss criminal proceeding exists.
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The memorandum argues that FIFA's statutes require UEFA to arbitrate disputes with FIFA and that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that this kind of discovery cannot be used in aid of arbitration.
After the quotation
The memorandum adds that the Swiss offense UEFA relies on requires UEFA to have sustained financial loss, but that FIFA withdrew the FFE proposal and UEFA sustained no financial loss, or any other harm.
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. FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries describe UEFA's criminal theory as speculative allegations that no prosecutor has adopted, repackaged from what UEFA earlier called a dispute for legal action or arbitration. They dispute UEFA's framing of the plan as a criminal matter.
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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
UEFA's lawyers call the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan a vehicle for a small circle to profit from FIFA's assets
UEFA
“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.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries say UEFA's criminal allegations are speculative and no prosecutor has adopted them". First published: 2026-10-23. Last updated: 2026-10-23. https://disputeindex.com/events/6587-fifa-s-u-s-subsidiaries-tell-the-new