UEFA considers filing criminal charges against Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, over possible ousting. The European body is seeking documents related to the proposed privatization of the World Cup, revealed last month by Martyn Ziegler of the Times. The projects allegedly involved U.S. financial institutions, according to reports by Sky News. Yesterday, UEFA called off its boycott of FIFA competitions following Infantino’s decision to abandon plans to sell World Cup commercial rights. Yet, the FIFA President remains vulnerable in his position.

Accusations of mismanagement and controversial financial ties

A legal document obtained by Sky News reveals that UEFA and other interested parties are preparing to file lawsuits in Switzerland against Infantino and potential other FIFA officials. The charges include "criminal mismanagement" under Article 158 of the Swiss Penal Code. The complaint accuses Infantino of secretly structuring the valuation, financing, and commercialization of a deal that harmed FIFA’s reputation, authority, and business relationships. These actions allegedly caused direct harm to FIFA’s 211 members, including UEFA’s 55 member associations. The lawsuit filed in the United States targets JPMorgan Chase, as well as Thrive Capital, the investment fund led by Joshua Kushner—brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump. The controversial project, dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise, proposed selling a minority stake in the commercial rights of major FIFA events, including the World Cup, to raise over $4 billion from private investors. Infantino had promised member federations an increase in development funds in exchange for their support, but the plan faced massive opposition. UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC categorically rejected the initiative. Facing this backlash, the FIFA president officially abandoned the project on August 1, citing "unmanageable" divisions contrary to FIFA's interests. Yet tensions persist within the organization, where some officials claim they were "duped" by the plan. Kevin Lamour, FIFA's chief operating officer, stated that the administration had been "misled" on the matter. Arsène Wenger, FIFA's director of global football development, for his part, said he only learned of the plans after they were publicized. Infantino, whose fourth term as FIFA president will be put to a vote at next March's Congress, sees his position increasingly weakened. His privatization plan not only failed but also triggered an internal crisis and legal proceedings that could seal his fate as the leader of world football.