FIFA Accuses UEFA of Misinformation Over Infantino World Cup Commercial Plan

FIFA has accused European football’s governing body UEFA of running a “misinformation” campaign over its efforts to obtain documents linked to Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to commercialise parts of the World Cup.

The allegation was contained in FIFA’s response to a court case in Florida, where the world football governing body argued that UEFA’s attempt to compel it to release the documents was also aimed at influencing next year’s FIFA presidential election.

The dispute centres on proposals unveiled in July to establish a commercial subsidiary that would oversee FIFA’s biggest competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

Under the proposal, private investors could have acquired stakes in a company created through the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.

The plan triggered strong opposition within football circles and was subsequently shelved by FIFA.

In its court filing, FIFA accused UEFA of making what it described as “numerous false or misleading statements” about Infantino and the world governing body.

FIFA specifically rejected any suggestion that Infantino intended to personally profit from the FFE proposal, saying UEFA had made claims that wrongly portrayed the FIFA president’s motives.

The organisation also argued that UEFA’s legal efforts to access the documents went beyond the stated dispute and could have implications for the upcoming FIFA presidential election.

Infantino is seeking another term as FIFA president, with the next election scheduled for 2027.

UEFA has yet to publicly respond to FIFA’s latest allegations. AFP reported that it had contacted the European governing body for a response.

The dispute adds to tensions between FIFA and UEFA over the governance and commercial direction of international football, particularly concerning how major competitions and their revenues should be managed.