UEFA is gearing up to file a criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts for potential financial mismanagement related to his abandoned proposal to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The move comes as UEFA has submitted legal documents in a Manhattan court to request evidence from the New York investment firm Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner.
Additionally, UEFA has sought authorization in a southern Florida district for discovery in a “foreign proceeding” against FIFA, which has offices in Coral Gables. The proposed deal involved Thrive and Kushner as key investors planning to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary managing FIFA’s commercial events, including the World Cup.
Legal counsel representing UEFA revealed intentions to potentially pursue criminal mismanagement charges against Infantino and other FIFA officials under Swiss law. The legal document obtained by The Associated Press suggests that the $4.2 billion valuation may have been inflated for Infantino’s personal gain.
Infantino abandoned the controversial sell-off plan in response to strong opposition from global soccer leaders, with UEFA warning FIFA not to conceal any pertinent materials related to the proposal. UEFA’s lawyers alleged that the plan was a scheme for Infantino and a select group to secure a lasting stake in FIFA’s assets to the detriment of the organization and its stakeholders.
Notably, FIFA and Thrive representatives have been contacted for their responses to the developments. In a separate development, Saudi Arabia, the designated host of the 2034 World Cup, publicly expressed support for Infantino’s efforts to foster unity in global soccer. Infantino has cultivated strong relationships with Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his presidency and played a role in directing the 2034 World Cup bid towards the kingdom.