Uefa has lodged a detailed legal filing that signals it is preparing criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Fifa president Gianni Infantino over a proposed commercial deal to sell a portion of the World Cup. The document, a 56-page submission filed in the United States, accuses Fifa leadership of pursuing a hurried plan that harmed the governing body’s reputation and commercial position.
What Uefa says went wrong
The filing centres on the now-abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, under which Fifa would have offered a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup to private investors for around $4.2bn. Uefa’s lawyers describe the valuation and structuring as opaque and seriously flawed, asserting that the transaction was not the result of any open, competitive process or independent valuation.
"preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino"
Uefa alleges the scheme inflicted "direct and concrete injury" on Fifa’s standing and on its member associations, including Uefa’s 55 national federations. The filing claims the arrangement was, in effect, "a vehicle for Infantino and a small circle to acquire a permanent stake and otherwise profit from Fifa’s most valuable assets," language that frames the complaint as extending beyond mere governance failings to possible personal gain.
Where the case will be examined
The papers were lodged in a Florida federal court because two Fifa entities connected to the matter — Fifa Americas and FWC2026 US — are based there. Uefa is using that filing to obtain documents and internal communications about the origin, valuation, marketing and announcement of the FFE proposal, signalling a fact-finding phase that could underpin criminal referrals to Swiss authorities.
- Alleged proposed deal: 20% stake in the World Cup for $4.2bn
- Legal basis mentioned: potential criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code
- Where documents sought: US federal court (Florida), from Fifa Americas and FWC2026 US
Responses and next steps
Fifa, which is headquartered in Zurich and therefore within Swiss jurisdiction, declined to comment on the filing. Uefa’s submission makes clear it is contemplating criminal charges under Swiss law, notably Article 158 concerning criminal mismanagement, and that further or different charges could follow as its review progresses.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Transaction proposed | 20% World Cup stake for $4.2bn |
| Filing length | 56 pages |
| Legal article cited | Article 158, Swiss Criminal Code |
For British readers the dispute matters because Uefa represents the continent’s national associations — including the Football Association — and because any legal or commercial fallout from the complaint could shape the governance, sponsorship and broadcast arrangements of football tournaments that are commercially important to broadcasters and rights-holders in the UK. The immediate phase will be a protracted document-led inquiry: Uefa is seeking material from Fifa entities in Florida to establish the facts before pressing Swiss authorities.
As the situation develops, key questions will be whether evidence substantiates Uefa’s claims of secrecy and self-dealing, whether Swiss prosecutors open a formal investigation, and what consequences might follow for Fifa governance and for international football’s commercial architecture.
