FIFA's lawyers say UEFA falsely claims Infantino sought a personal financial interest in the plan
FIFAFIFA, through lawyers for its U.S. subsidiaries in a filing in federal court in Miami
In their Florida filing, FIFA's lawyers say UEFA falsely asserts that Infantino sought a personal financial interest in the FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
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.
“falsely asserts that Mr. Infantino sought to have a personal financial interest in the FFE project.”
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, republished by NBC Sports Boston, on the opposition FIFA's lawyers filed in federal court in Florida on September 28 against UEFA's discovery request. It quotes the filing and summarizes the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and its withdrawal.
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The AP reports that FIFA's lawyers urged the Florida judge in a 21-page filing to deny UEFA's discovery request, arguing that it was made in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment. UEFA's earlier filings had called the $4.2 billion valuation a "fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit" amid speculation that he wanted a chief executive role at the subsidiary.
After the quotation
The AP adds that the plan was revealed by media reports on July 28, and that Infantino later apologized for errors in how it was handled.
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 lawyers call UEFA's assertion that Infantino sought a personal financial interest in the project false, which denies a central part of UEFA's allegation.
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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 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
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 lawyers say UEFA falsely claims Infantino sought a personal financial interest in the plan". First published: 2026-10-23. Last updated: 2026-10-23. https://disputeindex.com/events/6588-in-their-florida-filing-fifa-s-lawyers-say