UEFA warns FIFA of legal steps over contested investment scheme

UEFA has formally notified FIFA president Gianni Infantino that it is considering legal, arbitration or regulatory proceedings in response to the scrapped proposal to create a commercial arm, FIFA Forward Enterprise, that would accept minority, non-controlling investments from private capital. In its letter, UEFA demanded immediate steps to locate and preserve all electronic and paper records concerning the scheme, superseding any internal document-retention rules.

The English Football Association is preparing a separate letter to retract its prior backing of the plan, and Wales has become the first national association to publicly withdraw support for Infantino’s re-election bid. The contested initiative aimed to allow investors, led by venture firm Thrive Eternal, to acquire stakes in a subsidiary that would run FIFA’s major tournaments, including the World Cups. FIFA had offered member associations a conditional $40 million incentive to endorse the proposal, with a deadline of 19 September for an initial $20 million payout. UEFA’s request covers communications across all platforms involving any FIFA officials, member associations, broadcasters, sponsors or financial partners.