FIFA accuses UEFA of ‘defamation campaign’ as legal battle moves to US courts
FIFA says UEFA’s U.S. court requests aim to support a campaign of defamation and has moved to oppose them in Florida and New York.
FIFA has launched a forceful legal counter in the escalating dispute with UEFA, arguing that the European body’s court applications in the United States form part of a broader campaign to discredit FIFA and its leadership.
Timeline and legal manoeuvres
UEFA has sought access to documents tied to FIFA’s controversial private-investor plan for what was called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). FIFA had confirmed the scheme the month before, saying private investors would take a 20% stake in FFE, but the proposal was withdrawn by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on August 1, 2026 following opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF.
According to documents filed at the end of August 2026, UEFA requested evidence that FIFA says was assembled for potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland. FIFA moved in U.S. courts to block UEFA’s requests: it asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for leave to oppose UEFA’s application on August 28, 2026, and the court granted that permission on August 31, 2026. FIFA now has until September 28, 2026 to file a full objection in Florida. A parallel opposition filing has also been lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In its filings, FIFA’s legal team characterised UEFA’s moves as more than ordinary litigation. "UEFA's requests are little more than press statements supporting UEFA's campaign of defamation against FIFA and its leadership," the documents say, and FIFA asked the New York court to hold UEFA’s application in abeyance until the Florida court has ruled. Alternatively, FIFA asked for until September 30, 2026 to file its opposition there.
The dispute centres on UEFA’s demand for access to materials related to FFE, a vehicle that FIFA had proposed to manage the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments. Although the investment plan was formally withdrawn, UEFA has continued to press for documents and possible accountability from Infantino and other officials.
As the two governing bodies trade filings across jurisdictions, the case highlights growing legal and political friction inside world football and sets a timetable of court deadlines through September 2026.
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