FIFA Accuses UEFA of ‘Harassment’ and Election Interference Over Infantino

FIFA has accused European football chiefs of attempting to harass Gianni Infantino and influence next year’s presidential election by spreading what it describes as misinformation about his controversial World Cup investment venture.

The accusation was made in a court filing in Miami, where FIFA is seeking to block UEFA’s request for documents and evidence connected to the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. UEFA has been pursuing access to those materials as it considers possible legal action against Infantino in Switzerland.

FIFA’s lawyers argued that UEFA’s legal application was made in bad faith and amounted to an attempt to damage Infantino ahead of the presidential election in March 2027. They also rejected UEFA’s suggestion that Infantino sought to personally profit from the FFE proposal.

The dispute centres on FIFA’s plan to create a commercial vehicle that could have sold stakes in World Cup and other competition revenues to private investors. The proposal was abandoned in July following significant opposition from football stakeholders. UEFA has questioned the valuation and governance surrounding the scheme, while FIFA maintains that the plan underwent the required approvals and that Infantino had no personal financial interest in it.

The latest filing adds another layer to an increasingly public dispute between FIFA and UEFA, with Infantino seeking re-election for a fourth and final term while European opposition to his leadership continues to grow. UEFA has withdrawn its support but has yet to put forward a rival candidate.