Division, drama and power - what next for Infantino and Uefa?

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces a legal battle with UEFA over a collapsed investment plan that could see him criminally charged for mismanagement of the World Cup’s commercial rights.

In a filing lodged in the United States, UEFA’s lawyers describe Infantino’s “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) scheme as a “stunning dereliction of duty” that sold stakes in the World Cup at an absurdly low value without a competitive auction or independent valuation. The documents allege that the transaction inflicted concrete injury on FIFA and its 211 member associations and was conducted “under a veil of secrecy.” UEFA is seeking access to evidence in the United States to use in potential Swiss litigation against Infantino.

The FFE plan was revealed in early March but collapsed within days after FIFA’s board and several confederations rejected the proposal. UEFA had warned FIFA to preserve any relevant material and threatened criminal proceedings, a threat that was taken up in the U.S. court filings. The court documents also name Thrive Capital, the venture‑capital firm that was to lead the investment, and former Formula One chief Greg Maffei as “key commercial advisers” to the deal. UEFA is requesting subpoenas for documents and deposition testimony from these parties, although neither is expected to be a defendant.

Infantino has denied the allegations and has apologized for “errors” in the FFE plan, saying the scheme was intended to unlock FIFA’s commercial potential. FIFA officials have not yet responded to the latest legal filings, but the organization says it remains focused on staging the U‑20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next week. Infantino has been on a public relations tour, visiting the Dominican Republic, Paris, and Vietnam, and has posted a video of his “wonderful” visit to Vietnam on social media. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has publicly backed him, and UEFA has dropped a threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that a repeat of the FFE scheme would not occur.

Legal experts say the outcome will hinge on whether U.S. courts grant UEFA’s requests for disclosure. If evidence is produced, UEFA will need to show a credible case for criminal charges before Swiss prosecutors can act. The precedent for such prosecutions is unclear: in 2002 a Swiss court declined to prosecute former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, and last year Swiss authorities cleared Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini of corruption charges. Sports lawyer Nick de Marco KC has said that while the likelihood of a successful disclosure application is high, the decision to prosecute lies with the Swiss prosecutor and could take time.

UEFA’s legal team has also pledged to “secure fundamental reform, restore proper limits on presidential authority and ensure that FIFA is once again governed as an institution – not around one individual.” Vice‑president Laura McAllister said that a credible candidate would need to unite stakeholders and champion transparency, independence and due diligence. UEFA warns that if Infantino seeks a fourth term in the spring, it will “join forces with its partner confederations to ensure that member associations are offered a credible alternative.”

Infantino remains popular in South America, Africa and parts of Asia, and many observers still expect him to stay in power. The next months will see whether the legal proceedings move beyond disclosure, whether Swiss prosecutors decide to bring charges, and whether UEFA can secure a credible challenger. The outcome will determine whether FIFA’s governance will be restructured or whether Infantino will survive the current crisis.