UEFA to sue Gianni Infantino over alleged World Cup stake deal

UEFA is preparing a criminal case against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over an alleged attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, according to legal filings. The action is expected to be lodged in Switzerland, where FIFA is headquartered, and follows documents that outline concrete legal steps by UEFA and other interested parties.

"UEFA and other interested parties are preparing criminal complaints in Switzerland against Infantino, and potentially against other officials and advisers of FIFA. The charges will be based on allegations of misconduct according to Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code, with the possibility of adding other or alternative charges that may arise from the evidence gathered. This concerns the secret planning and execution of a transaction that directly damaged FIFA's reputation, its governance functions and business relationships. This transaction was to the detriment of the organisation itself and its 211 members, including 55 UEFA members." the legal documents state.

To assemble the documentary record for the plan, UEFA has already launched proceedings in the United States. A complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York naming JP Morgan and the planned principal investor, Thrive Capital, and its chief executive Joshua Kushner, who is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump.

Legal steps in the US and Miami

UEFA has also initiated actions before courts in Miami, where much of the football body's legal team is based. In its filings, UEFA characterises the disputed project as a mechanism intended to grant Infantino and a small circle of collaborators a lasting stake and financial benefit from FIFA's most valuable asset.

The documents describe the scheme as developed to the detriment of the organisation, its members and others involved in world football. UEFA's approach combines criminal complaints in Switzerland with civil litigation in the US as it seeks to preserve evidence and hold parties accountable.

The case is active and may produce additional charges or claims as investigators and litigators review the material. Any Swiss prosecution would be filed under the provisions of the Swiss Criminal Code and centre on allegations of misconduct tied to the contested transaction.

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