UEFA prepares criminal complaint against FIFA chief Infantino

By Aurax Desk | August 28, 2026 | 3 min read

UEFA is seeking documents from U.S.-based FIFA entities as it prepares possible criminal proceedings in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The action follows the collapse of a plan to place major FIFA commercial rights in a new investment-backed company, intensifying a dispute over the organization’s governance and financial oversight.

FIFA headquarters building in Zurich with the FIFA emblem visible.

FIFA headquarters in Zurich, where the organization’s leadership faces renewed scrutiny over the abandoned commercial rights proposal.

UEFA has asked U.S. federal courts to authorize the collection of testimony and documents from FIFA-related entities in Florida as part of preparations for a possible criminal complaint against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials and advisers. The request concerns FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed subsidiary that would have held commercial rights connected to the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. UEFA alleges the project was developed over more than a year by Infantino and a limited group of advisers and investors without adequate consultation with FIFA’s governing bodies or its 211 member associations. The European governing body is considering allegations of criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, although no criminal charges have been filed against Infantino and the allegations have not been established in court. FIFA has been contacted for comment.

The dispute centers on a proposal announced July 28 that identified Thrive Eternal, an investment vehicle associated with Thrive Capital, as a prospective investor. UEFA says investors would have paid about $4.2 billion for a stake that implied a valuation of roughly $20 billion for the commercial business, and argues the valuation was not subjected to an open competitive process or independent assessment. The proposal generated opposition among European football associations, which threatened to withdraw from FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, before FIFA abandoned the project on July 31. UEFA subsequently suspended its planned boycott after receiving assurances that the proposal had been permanently withdrawn, allowing European teams to participate in upcoming FIFA competitions, but it has continued pursuing legal and governance measures related to the episode. The controversy comes as Infantino seeks support for another term as FIFA president, with the next presidential election scheduled for March 2027, making the dispute part of a broader struggle over the direction and oversight of world football.

FIFA’s commercial rights are central to its finances, with revenue from World Cup broadcasting, sponsorship and related activities supporting development programs and operations across its member associations. UEFA has called for an independent examination of how the abandoned investment proposal was developed, while Infantino has maintained that the project was intended to increase funding available for football development and would have required approval through FIFA’s formal governance system. The confrontation also reflects longstanding tensions over FIFA’s leadership and governance following major corruption scandals that led to investigations and convictions involving senior football officials more than a decade ago. UEFA’s latest court filings in the United States are intended to obtain evidence that could potentially be used in proceedings in Switzerland, meaning the immediate legal significance of the action will depend on what documents and testimony are obtained and whether Swiss authorities ultimately pursue any complaint.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, ESPN, The Guardian and ABC News.

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