The UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, over what the European governing body considers possible “criminal mismanagement” related to the failed attempt to sell up to 20% of the World Cup business to private investors. The deal, valued at $4.2 billion, contemplated the involvement of Thrive Capital Management, a US investment fund linked to former President Donald Trump’s extended family. The legal offensive further increases tensions between UEFA and FIFA and could also involve other FIFA officials and executives.
The dispute stems from a deal that Infantino decided to abandon just days after The Times publicly revealed its details. The FIFA president had argued that the aim was to secure new resources to “strengthen member associations, especially in countries where financial support is most needed.” However, UEFA’s lawyers believe the proposed agreement contained elements that justify a criminal investigation, particularly regarding the price offered and the way the operation was allegedly promoted.
The $4.2 billion deal putting UEFA and FIFA at odds
The document prepared by UEFA’s lawyers argues that the $4.2 billion offered by Thrive Capital Management represented a “fraudulently off-market” price. According to the European governing body, the valuation would not have reflected normal market conditions and was allegedly promoted by Infantino for his own benefit. The complaint being prepared by UEFA seeks to determine whether the actions of the FIFA president and other individuals involved in the process could constitute criminal misconduct.
The proposal would have allowed the fund to acquire up to 20% of the business linked to the World Cup, one of FIFA’s main sources of revenue and strategic assets. The possibility of bringing private capital into a structure of this scale raised concerns among several confederations, particularly over the implications for control and the future distribution of the resources generated by the world’s leading national-team competition. After the details were published, Infantino decided not to proceed with the project, but the decision failed to bring the dispute to an end.
Pressure from confederations grows on Infantino
UEFA has maintained a critical stance toward Infantino’s leadership, and its reaction has found support elsewhere in international football. The AFC and Concacaf also opposed the deal and, months ago, sent a joint letter describing the project as “a betrayal of our trust.” The dispute has therefore moved beyond an exclusively European confrontation and now involves some of the major confederations that make up FIFA’s structure.
The pressure could increase in the coming months. Sources familiar with the process indicate that UEFA, AFC and Concacaf may even be considering a vote of no confidence against Infantino ahead of the vote scheduled for March. Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken a different position: its president, Patrice Motsepe, has publicly backed the Swiss official. Different positions remain within world football’s governing body as UEFA moves forward with a complaint that could further escalate the institutional dispute.
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