UEFA has formally warned FIFA President Gianni Infantino of potential legal action over the organization’s controversial plan to sell a 20% stake in its new commercial rights entity, which would have included World Cup media and sponsorship rights.
FIFA announced earlier this week its intent to raise US$4.2 billion by selling shares to private investors, reportedly including a fund linked to Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner. The move set off a firestorm in European football, with UEFA’s 55 member associations announcing a boycott of FIFA competitions unless the plan was withdrawn.
Infantino ultimately abandoned the proposal, but UEFA is demanding accountability. In a letter cited by The Telegraph, UEFA stated it is “actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints” and ordered Infantino and FIFA to “identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information” related to the plan.
Reports suggest the sale could have boosted Infantino’s annual salary from 3 million to 30 million euros, further fueling controversy. UEFA has since declared a loss of confidence in FIFA’s leadership and insists those responsible must be held to account.
The high-profile clash underscores the deepening rift between European football’s governing body and FIFA over the sport’s commercial future.
