FIFA accuses UEFA of harassing Infantino in World Cup share row
FIFA has accused UEFA of harassment of President Gianni Infantino and of trying to influence the FIFA presidential election by spreading misinformation about him, in a court filing in Miami obtained by Sky News.
The filing seeks to block UEFA's request for all evidence relating to the attempt to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors. "UEFA's conduct demonstrates that its application was made in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment," FIFA's lawyers wrote.
UEFA has sought all documents on the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, saying it could pursue a case against Infantino for criminal mismanagement and alleging he undersold the tournaments for personal financial benefit. UEFA also alleged that he developed the proposal in secret with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing FIFA's normal governance processes and failing to consult the FIFA Council, the regional confederations or member associations.
"With no basis whatsoever, UEFA suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal," FIFA's lawyers wrote. "As explained, the FFE plan was subject to approval by both the FIFA member associations and FIFA Council, and FFE would have been subject to oversight by both groups within FIFA."
"UEFA's suggestions that Mr Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically without merit," the filing says.
On the charge of underselling, world football's governing body said UEFA had mixed up FFE's equity value with its enterprise value. The scheme's total enterprise value, meaning the "entire value of the business," was well over $30 billion and "well in excess of twice the equity value, and therefore far above the value UEFA says would be fair," FIFA said in documents seen by Reuters.
"Just before FIFA's election, UEFA filed this application (and three others) spreading misinformation regarding Mr Infantino. This Court should reject any attempt to influence FIFA's presidential election based on these grounds," the legal submission says.
Infantino is seeking re-election in March. UEFA has withdrawn its support without proposing a rival candidate before the deadline in November, and has said it lost confidence in his leadership. The football associations of England, Scotland and Wales are among those that have withdrawn letters of endorsement.
Infantino has partly accepted a request for more of FIFA's reserves to be released. UEFA and CONCACAF sent him a letter claiming FIFA's reserves are set to rise to $6 billion, pointing to its financial strength despite the president's argument that private equity was needed to fund football development, Sky News reported.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani suggested in the letter that FIFA already has the wealth to use $2.1 billion of funds for infrastructure and football development worldwide and should give each country an extra $10 million.
"I will not prejudge the amount. I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through FIFA's proper governance process, applied fairly and supported by transparent and auditable arrangements. The ambition is welcome. The financial evidence, governance and implementation must now support it," Infantino wrote to FIFA Council members ahead of a council meeting, in a letter seen by Sky News.
