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UEFA have escalated it dispute with FIFA by threatening legal action over Gianni Infantino’s abandoned plan to bring private investment into the governing body’s flagship competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
The warning comes just days after FIFA officially withdrew the controversial proposal following widespread opposition from football stakeholders across the globe.
According to reports, UEFA has informed FIFA that it is considering legal proceedings, arbitration and regulatory complaints over the proposed creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary that would have allowed outside investors to acquire minority stakes in FIFA’s commercial operations.
UEFA demands preservation of documents
In a formal letter first reported by The Telegraph, UEFA requested that FIFA immediately preserve all documents and electronic records connected to the proposal, warning that such obligations override any routine document deletion or retention policies.
The European governing body said it was “actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints” arising from the investment plan, signalling that the matter could develop into a significant legal battle despite FIFA’s decision to abandon the project.
The proposal would have seen FIFA establish FIFA Forward Enterprise to manage the commercial rights of its major tournaments, while inviting third-party investors to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes.
Pressure grows on Infantino
The latest development adds to the growing pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose leadership has faced increasing scrutiny since the proposal emerged.
The English Football Association is also expected to formally withdraw its previous support for Infantino, while the Football Association of Wales has already become the first national federation to publicly back away from supporting his bid for another term as FIFA president.
The investment plan attracted strong criticism from UEFA, Concacaf and several member associations, who raised concerns over governance, transparency and the potential commercialisation of international football.
Although FIFA have since shelved the proposal, the fallout continues to intensify, with UEFA’s legal threat suggesting the governing body believes important questions remain unanswered over how the plan was developed and presented.