World football’s most powerful governing bodies have gone to war, with UEFA preparing a “criminal” complaint against Gianni Infantino.
Benedict Brook and AFP
The war between the boss of world soccer body FIFA and its regional counterparts has taken an explosive turn with UEFA preparing a criminal complaint for “criminal mismanagement” against Gianni Infantino.
It's a sign of how the relationship between FIFA, which organises the World Cup and other tournaments, and UEFA, Europe’s governing body for football, has completely fallen apart.
UEFA was already furious when FIFA revoked a red card given to a US player ahead of a World Cup match with Belgium after an apparent intervention from US President Donald Trump.
Then, Mr Infantino, the FIFA president, infamously spearheaded an attempt to partially sell off parts of the World Cup in a move that was later dropped after an apoplexy of rage from regional soccer bodies.
UEFA said it had not been consulted on the move to bring in private financing, but there were reports members of Donald Trump’s inner circle had been sounded out.
The plan was criticised as it would mean shareholders – rather then soccer clubs and organisations – would be partially in charge of the World Cup.
UEFA’s criminal mismanagement complaint is centred on the now shelved World Cup sell off plan, according to a document seen by AFP.
“UEFA is actively considering legal action arising out of and in connection with the … plan proposed by FIFA,” read the legal document filed in a Florida court in the United States.
“More specifically, UEFA and other interested parties are preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials and advisers for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code”.
The court documents called out the “absurdly low enterprise value of only approximately $US20bn” suggested by Mr Infantino’s scheme which would have sold a 20 per cent stake in the FIFA tournaments and events for $US4.2bn.
The court documents said the figures had not scrutinised independently to see if they were a true reflection of their worth.
