The long-standing FIFA-UEFA dispute has reached a new boiling point. World football’s governing body, FIFA, recently accused its European counterpart, UEFA, of conducting a ‘smear campaign’ and a ‘fishing expedition.’ This sharp criticism emerged amidst a complex legal battle.
UEFA initiated proceedings in a U.S. District Court in New York. There, it seeks permission to collect testimonies and documents from U.S.-based entities. These materials would then support potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland, where both FIFA and UEFA maintain their headquarters.
FIFA responded with a filing in a U.S. District Court in Colorado. On Thursday, it labeled UEFA’s applications as ‘little more than press releases.’ FIFA further argued these actions served to bolster UEFA’s ongoing campaign against its leadership and President, Gianni Infantino. Consequently, FIFA filed a motion to intervene, asking the court to postpone or dismiss the discovery process.
At the core of this conflict lies FIFA’s controversial plan to sell a stake in its commercial rights. This initiative involved the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). However, UEFA claims FIFA developed the FFE without adequate consultation with its 211 member associations or even FIFA’s own governing bodies.
UEFA strongly opposed the commercial rights sale. It threatened a boycott of the FIFA World Cup, impacting both men’s and women’s tournaments, if the plan proceeded. Meanwhile, FIFA countered that UEFA sought to undermine the proposal. FIFA believes UEFA aimed to preserve the existing dominance of European football.
Pressure has also mounted directly on FIFA President Gianni Infantino since the FFE plans became public. Several countries now state they will not support his re-election bid in March 2027. This Swiss-born football boss seeks a fourth term in office.
Beyond the ongoing FIFA-UEFA dispute, other continental confederations have joined the calls for Infantino’s resignation. Both CONCACAF, representing North and Central America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have voiced strong objections. Currently, only the South American and African confederations continue to support him.
Moreover, UEFA has demanded a ‘genuinely independent external review’ of how the FFE proposal originated. UEFA explicitly stated that FIFA ‘cannot investigate itself’ and expect the football community to simply accept its findings.
