UEFA is gearing up to file a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts over alleged financial mismanagement related to his abandoned proposal to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. On Thursday, UEFA submitted documents in a Manhattan court to seek potential evidence from the New York investment firm Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner.
Additionally, UEFA filed a request in a southern Florida district to obtain authorization for discovery in a foreign proceeding against FIFA, which has offices in Coral Gables, a suburb of Miami. Thrive Capital Management and Kushner were set to be the primary investors, intending to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary responsible for managing the soccer body’s commercial events, including the World Cup.
According to a 56-page document reviewed by The Associated Press, UEFA and its legal team are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials for alleged criminal mismanagement under Swiss law. The document suggests that the $4.2 billion figure could be an overvalued amount promoted by Infantino for personal gain.
Infantino abandoned the sell-off plan on August 1 following strong opposition from global soccer authorities, including UEFA. UEFA had initially warned FIFA on August 3 not to conceal or destroy any relevant materials linked to the proposal. UEFA’s lawyers argued that Infantino’s plan, despite his assertions of unlocking FIFA’s commercial potential, was designed to benefit himself and a select group at the expense of FIFA, its members, and other stakeholders in the football community.
FIFA and Thrive have been contacted for comments on the matter. Earlier on Thursday, Infantino received support from Saudi Arabia, the host nation for the 2034 World Cup. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) expressed its current backing for Infantino’s endeavors to restore global unity in soccer. Infantino has cultivated strong relationships with Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his tenure and played a role in directing the 2034 World Cup to the kingdom. Both figures recently attended a Saudi-backed video gaming event in Paris.