UEFA threatens FIFA with legal action over World Cup sell-off plan

European soccer's governing body UEFA has threatened FIFA with legal action over president Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors, warning that potential evidence should not be destroyed, as the embattled FIFA chief's attempts to secure backing from the Trump administration were publicly rebuffed.

Legal Pressure Mounts

UEFA's lawyers from the firm Dechert in New York sent a letter to FIFA on Friday stating that the European body is "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints … arising out of and in connection with the FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise) plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters," according to the Associated Press, which reviewed the letter on Monday.thescore+1

The letter named 18 FIFA executives — including Infantino and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger — who it said should retain data, documents, and electronic messages as potential evidence. "Any destruction, deletion, alteration, concealment, or loss of relevant materials following receipt of this notice … may constitute spoliation of evidence," the letter warned.sportnation+1

Infantino's proposal, dropped early Saturday after days of global backlash, sought to raise $4.2 billion by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at $20 billion. The subsidiary would have taken control of FIFA's commercial and tournament operations. Thrive Capital, led by Josh Kushner — the brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner — was set to anchor the investment.forbes+1

Infantino Seeks White House Help

As his position deteriorated, Infantino repeatedly attempted to reach President Donald Trump by phone since the plan collapsed on Friday, according to the New York Post, which first reported that the FIFA chief felt "isolated" by negative coverage. The Post reported that Infantino scheduled a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday morning to discuss "how soccer can be a form of soft power for America."nypost

However, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson publicly denied the claim, posting on X that there were "no plans" for Rubio to speak with Infantino and that "there is no call this morning."aljazeera+1

Re-election in Doubt

The fallout has upended Infantino's once-secure path to a fourth term. Before the controversy, roughly 200 of FIFA's 211 member federations had pledged support for his re-election in March. Now England's Football Association is withdrawing its backing, following Wales, Serbia, Sweden, and Finland. The Swedish federation confirmed Monday that UEFA is actively seeking an alternative candidate.forbes+1

Still, Infantino retains support among African and South American federations. He needs 106 votes to win re-election and could theoretically lose all of Europe's 55 UEFA votes and North America's 35 CONCACAF votes and still prevail. FIFA's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour called the abandoned scheme the work of "just one man" and said staff felt "deceived" by a lack of transparency.thescore+1