UEFA reportedly threatened FIFA President Gianni Infantino with legal action over a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was abandoned by Infantino on Saturday following significant backlash from the football community.
In a letter sent to Infantino on Friday, UEFA declared a loss of confidence in the FIFA president and warned against the destruction of any documents related to the FFE plan. According to The Telegraph, the letter stated that UEFA was "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints" in connection with the collapsed proposal. The European football governing body also wrote to potential investor Joshua Kushner, his associate Greg Maffei, JPMorgan, and OpenEconomics, indicating potential legal proceedings.
UEFA's letter specifically demanded that Infantino and other FIFA officials, including Arsene Wenger, Mattias Grafstrom, and Kevin Lamour, take "immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents" pertaining to the FFE plan. The warning emphasized that any "destruction, deletion, alteration, concealment or loss of relevant materials" after the letter was sent could be considered "spoliation of evidence."
The FFE plan aimed to secure private investment for the development of football globally, particularly in nations requiring more support. Kushner, brother-in-law to former U.S. President Donald Trump, was expected to lead the investor group through his Thrive Eternal fund. Maffei, identified as a Trump donor, was also slated to be involved, with JPMorgan and OpenEconomics reportedly assisting in the investor search.
Infantino announced the abandonment of the FFE project on Saturday, citing the divisions it created as counterproductive to its original objectives. He stated that the proposal would not proceed and expressed an intent to reunite stakeholders to continue football's growth worldwide. This U-turn came less than a day after Infantino attempted to clarify the plans, attributing media misinterpretations.
The collapse of the FFE plan raises questions about Infantino's future as FIFA president. He was previously expected to run unopposed in the upcoming March elections. However, the controversy could potentially lead to a vote of no confidence from FIFA member nations, of which UEFA alone comprises 55.