Sports

UEFA Opposes FIFA Units' Bid to Join US Evidence Dispute Over Infantino

By Reuters

UEFA has asked a United States court to reject an attempt by FIFA's American subsidiaries to intervene in its effort to gather evidence for a potential Swiss criminal case against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, related to his abandoned plan to sell World Cup commercial rights.

In a filing submitted late Thursday to the Manhattan federal court, European football's governing body argued that FIFA (Americas) Inc and FWC2026 US Inc were improperly attempting to represent FIFA and Infantino in the case, even though neither the organization nor its president had sought to join the proceedings themselves.

UEFA's request, filed under a US discovery law, seeks documents and testimony from Thrive Capital Management and its founder, Joshua Kushner, who UEFA says may possess information relevant to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise transaction. Infantino withdrew the plan on August 1 following criticism from football organizations and other stakeholders. The proposal had called for selling a permanent stake in commercial and operational rights tied to the World Cup and other FIFA events to private investors.

UEFA has indicated it is weighing a criminal complaint in Switzerland accusing Infantino, and potentially other FIFA officials, of criminal mismanagement. Neither Infantino nor FIFA has been charged with any wrongdoing, and Infantino has denied any misconduct.

Last week, FIFA accused UEFA of conducting a