FIFA has asked a US court to delay or drop UEFA’s discovery requests after scrapping a US$4.2 billion-scale plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes and accused UEFA of a "smear campaign".
FIFA accused UEFA of a "smear campaign" on September 4, 2026, even as UEFA presses three US courts for discovery it says could underpin criminal proceedings in Switzerland. In a motion to intervene in US District Court in Colorado, FIFA asked judges to defer or drop those discovery requests and called UEFA’s filings "little more than press releases", aimed at damaging president Gianni Infantino.
The row began when FIFA withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal on July 31, 2026. The plan had pitched a private equity investment of about US$4.2 billion to buy stakes in World Cup commercial rights. UEFA has filed discovery applications in US courts in New York, Florida and Colorado seeking documents from Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital and advisers including Greg Maffei. UEFA says the material could support a Swiss criminal complaint. The dispute has deepened divisions among confederations. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have been publicly critical. Some confederations are discussing a vote of no confidence. African and South American bodies continue to back Infantino, who is due to seek re-election in March 2027.
What Happened
A US court fight over discovery requests has become a proxy battle between FIFA and UEFA, after FIFA accused UEFA of waging a smear campaign against president Gianni Infantino. FIFA filed a motion to intervene in US District Court in Colorado, asking judges to defer or drop UEFA’s discovery requests and saying UEFA’s filings were “little more than press releases” supporting that campaign.
The row traces back to FIFA’s aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which FIFA withdrew on July 31 after heavy pushback; the plan had pitched a prospective private equity investment at about US$4.2 billion to buy stakes in World Cup commercial rights. UEFA responded by seeking evidence in the United States, filing discovery requests in three courts.
One of those filings in the Southern District of New York targets documents from Josh Kushner and his firm Thrive Capital, while other requests in Florida and Colorado seek material from advisers including Greg Maffei. UEFA says the US discovery could produce evidence to support a Swiss criminal complaint over the handling of the FFE proposal.
FIFA is asking US judges for the chance to oppose or delay that discovery, and the dispute has sharpened pressure on Infantino, with UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation among the critics and some member confederations reportedly discussing a possible vote of no confidence, even as African and South American confederations continue to back him. Infantino is due to seek re-election in March 2027.
The Context
This fight is about control of World Cup money and the legal consequences of the scrapped deal. FIFA’s July proposal to create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a vehicle to sell stakes in World Cup commercial rights and attract private equity, was withdrawn on July 31 after strong pushback from member confederations and other stakeholders.
UEFA has responded with legal tactics, filing discovery requests in three US courts. These seek documents from US-based partners and advisers, including an application in New York targeting Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital and filings in Florida and Colorado aimed at figures such as Greg Maffei. UEFA says the material could support criminal proceedings in Switzerland. FIFA has filed a motion to intervene, asking US judges to defer or drop UEFA’s discovery requests. FIFA calls UEFA’s submissions "little more than press releases" that fuel a "smear campaign" against president Gianni Infantino.
The episode has split the membership. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation raised the loudest objections to the sale idea and some confederations discussed a possible vote of no confidence in Infantino, while the African and South American confederations have continued to back him. UEFA has said it is preparing a Swiss criminal complaint for possible financial mismanagement and indicated it may lodge that complaint if supported by documents obtained through US discovery.
Reaction
The row has sharply increased pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino and split the game’s regional confederations. FIFA moved in US court to intervene and asked judges to defer or drop UEFA’s discovery requests, calling UEFA’s filings “little more than press releases” supporting a smear campaign.
UEFA has said it seeks documents from investors and advisers in multiple US jurisdictions and that material from those requests could underpin a criminal complaint in Switzerland. That prospect, turning discovery into evidence for a Swiss probe, is what has hardened positions on both sides.
The backlash to FIFA’s aborted sell-off plan left UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation openly critical, and some member federations discussed a possible vote of no confidence, while African and South American confederations continued to back Infantino. Infantino is due to seek re-election in March 2027.
FIFA is asking US judges for the chance to oppose or delay the discovery UEFA has sought. It argues the legal applications are part of a wider campaign against the organisation, not normal evidentiary requests.
What's Next
This dispute now turns on two legal gates: whether US judges allow UEFA to pry into private deals, and whether Swiss prosecutors receive enough of that material to open a criminal case. FIFA has asked a Colorado federal court to pause or throw out UEFA's discovery requests, calling the European body's filings "little more than press releases" and moving to intervene so it can oppose or delay subpoenas. UEFA has already filed for discovery in three US courts; one request in the Southern District of New York seeks documents from Josh Kushner and his firm Thrive Capital, and other filings in Florida and Colorado target advisers including Greg Maffei.
If US judges approve UEFA's requests, the documents could be sent to Switzerland. UEFA says it is preparing a criminal complaint there over possible financial mismanagement linked to the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. It may file the complaint if US discovery produces supporting evidence. FIFA withdrew the proposal on July 31 after widespread pushback; the plan had involved a private equity investment of about the amount previously reported.
What follows is procedural. US district judges will decide competing motions over the next weeks and months. A ruling that allows broad discovery would hand UEFA a route to Swiss prosecutors. A ruling that defers or narrows discovery would protect FIFA from immediate document exposure, at least temporarily.
The political clock is also running. The sell-off plan and the resulting legal fight have intensified pressure on Gianni Infantino. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation publicly criticised the proposal, and some confederations discussed a vote of no confidence while African and South American confederations signalled continued support. That dynamic will shape any internal FIFA challenge and any appetite among federations to back criminal referral.
Key steps to watch
- The Colorado court's ruling on FIFA's motion to intervene and any order to defer or dismiss discovery.
- The Southern District of New York response to UEFA's subpoena for documents from Thrive Capital and Josh Kushner.
- How Florida and Colorado courts handle subpoenas targeting advisers such as Greg Maffei.
- Whether UEFA files the Swiss criminal complaint if US discovery produces the documents it seeks.
- Moves inside FIFA's member confederations, including any formal no-confidence initiatives.
The next decisive moments are legal, and they will be measured in filings and court dates rather than headlines. Infantino is due to seek re-election in March 2027.
Originally reported by ABC.
This article was created with AI assistance.
