FIFA has accused the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) of pursuing a “smear campaign” and a “fishing expedition” after the European governing body asked US judges to compel the global football body to release documents linked to its abandoned World Cup investment plan. The dispute follows FIFA’s controversial proposal……
FIFA has accused the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) of pursuing a “smear campaign” and a “fishing expedition” after the European governing body asked US judges to compel the global football body to release documents linked to its abandoned World Cup investment plan.
The dispute follows FIFA’s controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to investors, which was unveiled in July and sparked strong opposition across the football community.
UEFA had threatened to boycott the World Cup if FIFA proceeded with the plan, intensifying pressure on the global governing body to abandon the proposal.
FIFA subsequently dropped the plan following the backlash, but the controversy has now shifted to a potential legal battle between the two football organisations.
UEFA is reportedly considering legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over alleged “criminal mismanagement” in connection with the investment plan.
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The European governing body has sought access to documents relating to the proposal through US courts, prompting FIFA to accuse UEFA of attempting to gather information without a legitimate legal basis.
Last week, it filed requests in three US states requesting the disclosure of documents related to the plan from FIFA and partners, including prospective lead investor Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital firm.
If successful in gaining access to the documents, UEFA had said it intends to lodge a legal complaint in Switzerland, saying it has been assured the case would meet the requirements to be heard in a Swiss court.
But FIFA has hit back, asking US judges for permission to contest the UEFA requests.
“While these applications are styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they are little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” say the FIFA filings.
The filings, reviewed by AFP, say UEFA does not have the right to demand FIFA internal documents because no criminal proceedings yet exist in Switzerland or elsewhere.
Even if such proceedings did exist, the filings say, UEFA would not have legal standing because it has suffered no financial loss.
The FIFA filings also accuse UEFA of illegally bypassing Swiss courts but applying directly to US courts.
Disclosure of the documents, including correspondence involving Infantino and other named FIFA personnel and advisors, “would directly threaten FIFA’s interests and reveal sensitive and proprietary information,” say the filings.
UEFA has made no secret of its desire to remove Infantino, who had hoped to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term next March after a highly successful World Cup.
UEFA may have been the harshest critic — it described his proposal as a “shady, opaque backroom deal” — but it has found solid support from North and Central America’s CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is widely seen as the likeliest challenger to Infantino — UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out.
The three confederations have kept up the pressure and collaborated on a no-holds-barred joint letter issued earlier last month.
“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held,” they wrote.
UEFA added: “FIFA must once again be governed as an institution serving football –- not operate as an instrument of individual power.”
FIFA has repeatedly disputed those claims.
“This application is yet another step in UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” summarizes one of the FIFA filings.
AFP
