Legal battle deepens as FIFA challenges UEFA’s claims over Infantino

By KPD News Online | September 30, 2026

FIFA has accused UEFA of conducting a “misinformation campaign” and attempting to influence the organisation’s upcoming presidential election, as a legal dispute over an abandoned commercial proposal involving World Cup rights intensifies.

The accusation was made in a filing to a U.S. federal court in Florida, where FIFA is opposing UEFA’s request to obtain testimony and documents connected to the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

FIFA rejects UEFA allegations in escalating football governance dispute

Dispute centres on abandoned FIFA commercial plan

The controversy surrounds a proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise as a commercial subsidiary that could have allowed private investors to acquire an interest in commercial rights connected to major FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

The proposal was abandoned in July following opposition from several football bodies, including UEFA. UEFA subsequently sought access to documents and evidence that it said could support a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland concerning FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the handling of the FFE proposal.

UEFA has alleged that the proposal was developed without adequate consultation and questioned the valuation of the proposed enterprise. FIFA has rejected those allegations.

UEFA seeks FIFA documents as Infantino faces fresh scrutiny

FIFA rejects allegations against Infantino

In its court response, FIFA said UEFA had made what it described as “false or misleading statements” concerning FIFA and Infantino.

FIFA specifically rejected the suggestion that Infantino sought personal financial benefit from the FFE proposal. The organisation said the plan would have required approval from FIFA’s member associations and the FIFA Council, with oversight from those bodies.

FIFA also challenged UEFA’s interpretation of the proposed enterprise’s valuation, arguing that UEFA had confused the project’s equity value with its overall enterprise value. FIFA said documents provided to member associations placed the enterprise value above $30 billion.

FIFA links UEFA legal action to upcoming presidential election

UEFA has defended its concerns

UEFA has previously said the proposal raised serious questions about the ownership and future commercialisation of FIFA competitions.

In a July statement, UEFA and its 55 national associations rejected the plan to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. UEFA said significant decisions affecting the sport should involve meaningful consultation with football’s stakeholders.

UEFA has not commented on FIFA’s latest court filing, according to Reuters.

Election adds another dimension

FIFA’s response also links the dispute to the organisation’s next presidential election, scheduled for March 2027.

FIFA argued that UEFA’s legal action could influence the election campaign. Infantino is expected to seek another term, while potential challengers have until November 18 to enter the race, according to reports published this week.

The dispute now involves both the legal questions surrounding the abandoned FFE proposal and a broader disagreement over FIFA’s governance, commercial strategy and decision-making processes.

Infantino has separately proposed an independent review of FIFA’s decision-making procedures, according to Reuters.

The court proceedings are expected to determine whether UEFA will gain access to the evidence and documents it is seeking. The allegations made by either organisation have not, by themselves, established wrongdoing by the other side.