Fifa accuses Uefa of misinformation in court dispute over shelved venture

Fifa has opposed Uefa’s attempt to obtain evidence from two US-based Fifa companies about its abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. In its Florida court response, reported by BBC Sport and Sky News, Fifa accused Uefa of making false or misleading claims about the organisation and its president, Gianni Infantino. [1] [6]

Uefa applied in August for documents, communications and corporate testimony. It said it was considering Swiss criminal proceedings over alleged mismanagement connected to FFE, and questioned whether the proposed price for an investment stake was too low and whether Infantino might benefit personally. [2]

Fifa rejected the suggestion that Infantino sought to profit or had broken legal or ethical rules. Its lawyers also accused Uefa of trying to influence Fifa’s next presidential election and argued that its request for evidence was too broad. [1] [6]

FFE would have brought Fifa’s commercial rights and event operations into a subsidiary. The proposal envisaged selling up to 20% of that subsidiary to outside investors while Fifa retained control. Fifa’s July explanation said no individual role or pay package had been agreed. The proposal was subsequently abandoned. [3] [4]