JUST IN: UEFA OPENS CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST FIFA, INFANTINO
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
UEFA has commenced criminal proceedings against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over a controversial plan to sell stakes in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other major FIFA competitions to private investors.
Documents obtained by BBC Sport on Thursday revealed that UEFA had applied to access evidence and documents for use in legal proceedings in Switzerland against FIFA and Infantino.
The move stems from Infantino’s July 28, 2026 announcement of plans to transfer the commercial rights to the men’s and women’s World Cups, as well as the Club World Cup, to a newly created FIFA subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise.
According to the documents, the proposal was announced without prior consultation with the FIFA Council, UEFA, other continental confederations or any of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
The application stated that the announcement was the culmination of a plan allegedly developed in secrecy by Infantino and a small group of associates for more than a year.
The proposed investment structure has since been abandoned. However, UEFA’s legal action could further increase scrutiny of FIFA’s governance and its management of the commercial rights attached to its major tournaments.
The proceedings are being pursued in Switzerland, where FIFA is headquartered, with UEFA seeking access to documents and other evidence it considers relevant to the case against FIFA and Infantino.
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