FIFA accuses UEFA of disinformation and trying to sway next year’s presidential election | OneFootball

FIFA has accused UEFA of running a disinformation campaign and of trying to influence next year’s presidential election, as it urged a US court to reject a request for documents linked to a contentious investment proposal.

According to L'Équipe, last month UEFA asked a US federal court for permission to secure testimony and records for a planned Swiss criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The matter concerns a shelved plan to shift World Cup commercial rights to a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, FFE.

In a response filed on Monday, FIFA said UEFA’s brief contained numerous false or misleading statements about the organisation and Mr Infantino. It insisted UEFA had, without basis, suggested Infantino sought personal profit from the FFE proposal. The filing was lodged in the Southern District of Florida, opposing UEFA’s discovery bid.

UEFA had claimed Infantino devised the plan in secret with a small circle of advisers and investors, bypassing FIFA’s usual governance and without consulting the Council, regional confederations or member associations. It also said investors would have paid $4.2 billion for a stake, valuing FFE at about $20 billion.

FIFA countered that UEFA was confusing equity value with enterprise value. While UEFA pursues material through the US courts, FIFA is resisting and says the move aims to influence next year’s vote. Infantino is seeking another term and is the only declared candidate.

Source: L'Équipe

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