NEW YORK.- The FIFA accused the UEFA of launching a “smear campaign” against him amid the European confederation’s opposition to the president of football’s governing body, Gianni Infantino, according to documents known this Thursday by AFP.
FIFA reacted in this way after UEFA asked American judges to force the football governing body to hand over documents about its failed plan to attract investors for the World.
UEFA strongly rejected this project presented in July, to the point that it threatened to boycott the tournament if the initiative was not backed down.
Although FIFA backed down and quickly aborted the plans due to criticism from much of the football world, UEFA was not happy and is preparing possible legal actions against Infantino for alleged “criminal mismanagement.”
Last week, the European confederation submitted applications in three states of USA to demand the disclosure of documents related to the plan, both to FIFA and its partners, including the signature Thrive Capital of Joshua Kushnerwho emerged as the main interested investor.
Kushner is the brother of the son-in-law of the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
UEFA has stated that, if it gains access to the documents, it could file a formal complaint in Swisswhere the case would meet the requirements to be tried in the courts of that country.
FIFA defends itself
However, FIFA responded by asking American judges for permission to challenge the European confederation’s requests.
“Although these requests are presented in the format of judicial briefs, with their headings and file numbers, they are nothing more than press releases intended to reinforce UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its management,” state the documents presented by FIFA and known this Thursday by AFP.
They maintain that UEFA does not have the right to demand internal documents from FIFA, given that there are still no criminal proceedings open either in Switzerland or in any other jurisdiction.
Even if such a procedure existed, FIFA argues, the European confederation would lack procedural standing as it had not suffered any economic loss.
Soccer’s highest authority also accuses UEFA of illegally bypassing Swiss courts by going directly to offices in the United States.
The disclosure of the documents – which include correspondence from Infantino and other members of FIFA staff and advisors – “would directly threaten the interests of FIFA and reveal sensitive and confidential information,” the texts state.
Infantino re-election
UEFA has made no secret of its desire to remove Infantino, who hoped to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term next March, after a successful 2026 World Cup.
Although UEFA has been the fiercest critic of the aborted plan, which it described as a “murky, opaque agreement forged behind the scenes”, it has also found firm support in the confederations of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf) and Asia (AFC).
The president of Concacaf, Victor Montaglianiis widely considered Infantino’s most likely rival in the dispute for the presidency, since Alexander Ceferinfrom UEFA, has ruled out running.
The three confederations have maintained the pressure and sent a joint letter in early August in which they ask that FIFA return to “govern itself as an institution at the service of football and not operate as an instrument of individual power.”
