Uefa Legal Action Escalates Fifa Crisis

Uefa is preparing criminal legal proceedings against Fifa president Gianni Infantino over the scrapped plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. The move marks a sharp escalation in the governance battle at the top of world football.

Documents seen by BBC Sport show Uefa has applied for access to evidence for potential proceedings in Switzerland, accusing Infantino of “criminal mismanagement”. Uefa says it may also pursue action against other Fifa officials.

The dispute centres on Fifa Forward Enterprise, a proposed company that would have allowed private investors to take stakes in Fifa’s commercial competitions. The plan was abandoned after widespread backlash, including opposition from Uefa and several football associations.

Uefa claims the proposal was developed without proper consultation and would have harmed Fifa, its member associations and wider football stakeholders. It also argues that the proposed valuation was not independently verified and would have allowed investors to acquire a permanent financial interest in Fifa’s commercial arm at an unfairly low price.

Infantino has faced calls to step down, though he still retains support from some regional football bodies. The legal pressure now adds a more serious dimension to what had already become an institutional crisis.

The case shows how disputes over sports governance can quickly become legal battles over authority, transparency and asset control. If Uefa succeeds in obtaining documents through courts in the US, the fight over Fifa’s commercial future may move from football politics into a much more formal legal arena.