UEFA is pursuing criminal legal proceedings against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino. This comes as a result of the now-scrapped plan to sell stakes in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
Documents seen by BBC Sport show that European football’s governing body has applied for access to evidence and documents that it intends to use in legal proceedings in Switzerland against FIFA and Infantino.
UEFA Challenges FIFA Investment plan
According to documents submitted by UEFA, the announcement was made without consultation with the FIFA Council, UEFA, other continental confederations or FIFA’s 211 member associations.
The application alleges that Infantino and a small group of individuals had been developing the plan in secret. The document describes those involved as “co-conspirators”, although the allegations have not been established in court.
The proposed restructuring has since been scrapped. However, but UEFA’s legal challenge could now bring greater scrutiny to how the plan was developed and announced.
Proceedings in Switzerland
UEFA’s application is seeking access to relevant evidence and documents for use in proceedings in Switzerland.
The case places further pressure on Infantino and FIFA over the governance and commercial management of the organisation’s major competitions.
The full details of UEFA’s allegations and the legal grounds for the proceedings are yet to emerge.
More to follow.
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