Fifa has accused European football's governing body, UEFA, of conducting a "smear campaign" against its leadership and the organization. The dispute centers on Fifa President Gianni Infantino's now-scrapped proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Last week, UEFA initiated legal proceedings in the United States, seeking disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa as part of potential criminal claims in Switzerland. UEFA had previously accused Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and promoting a deal at a "fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit" concerning the shelved Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.
In response, Fifa has filed a court document in the U.S., seen by the BBC, requesting a court to "oppose" UEFA's application by the end of the month. Fifa stated that the creation of FFE was "only a proposal" and could only have proceeded with the support of a majority of member associations and the approval of the Fifa Council.
"Rather than participate in that democratic process, Uefa issued a press release - the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against Fifa and its leadership," Fifa stated in its court filing. The organization asserts that UEFA chose to begin a public campaign rather than engage in the established democratic process for approving such proposals.
The controversy highlights an escalating tension between the two major football governing bodies. The FFE scheme aimed to generate significant revenue through private investment, but it faced internal opposition and has now been abandoned by Fifa following UEFA's legal actions and public accusations.