FIFA submit legal documents accusing UEFA of orchestrating a smear campaign against president Gianni Infantino

FIFA have accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign against them and Gianni Infantino following threats of criminal proceedings against the president. According to a report by The Athletic, the dispute stems from UEFA filing a legal document in the United States on August 28.

The European governing body alleged that Infantino was promoting a "fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit" regarding the sale of a 20 per cent stake in FIFA’s commercial operations for $4.2 billion (£3.1bn). The plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, would have seen American investment fund Thrive Eternal purchase a major stake in global competitions.

Responding to the filing by UEFA, FIFA lodged a motion to intervene in New York on Tuesday, asking for the application to be opposed. In their legal response, FIFA heavily criticised Aleksander Ceferin and his organisation. "While these applications are styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they are little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership," the filing stated. FIFA further argued that UEFA blocked the FFE merely to prevent smaller nations from gaining financial strength and challenging the European elite.

The escalating conflict highlights a deep political divide between the two governing bodies. FIFA allege that the real economic motivation behind UEFA blocking the investment was to maintain their global market power. The filing read: "If soccer is strengthened in the developing world, global competition increases, which ultimately reduces UEFA’s market power and provides more competition for its flagship tournaments." FIFA also noted that UEFA lack the authority to initiate the criminal proceedings they threatened in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Joshua Kushner, whose investment fund was involved, released a statement on Monday that claimed they "failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football".

FIFA and UEFA are now bracing for a protracted legal showdown in the United States courts. With the FFE proposal officially abandoned, the focus will shift to how a judge handles the disclosure requests involving Infantino and the American investors. The intense rivalry between Infantino and Ceferin is likely to dominate the political landscape as both organisations prepare for upcoming international tournaments.