The governing body of European football is considering filing a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Gianni Infantino for alleged financial mismanagement
The conflict between UEFA and FIFA has escalated to the judicial arena. The governing body of European football is considering initiating criminal proceedings in Swiss courts against Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, and possibly against other officials of the organization for potential unfair management.
The judicial strategy began to take shape with requests for documentation in the United States. UEFA filed motions in a Manhattan court to attempt to access possible evidence held by Thrive Capital Management, a New York investment fund founded by Joshua Kushner.
Additionally, the European body requested authorization from a court in South Florida to conduct proceedings aimed at obtaining evidence within a “foreign proceeding” related to FIFA, which also has offices in Coral Gables, near Miami.
The conflict between UEFA and FIFA persists
The USD 4.2 billion project that generated the conflict
The crux of the dispute is a financial project that FIFA ultimately decided to abandon. Thrive Capital Management and Joshua Kushner were expected to be the main investors in a deal worth USD 4.2 billion, in exchange for a 20% stake in a subsidiary responsible for managing the organization's commercial activities, including those related to the World Cup.
The deal raised significant concerns among international football officials and ultimately led to increasing tension with UEFA.
In a 56-page court document, the lawyers for the European body stated: “UEFA and its advisors are considering initiating criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal unfair management under Article 158 of the Swiss Penal Code.”
The document also raises doubts about the economic valuation of the deal and argues that the USD 4.2 billion could have constituted a “fraudulently inflated market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.”
