FIFA: UEFA prepares legal action against Gianni Infantino

UEFA isn't backing down in its offensive against Gianni Infantino. After securing the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project—which aimed to open the capital of FIFA's main competitions to private investors—the European governing body seems unwilling to settle for just a political victory. According to revelations by The Telegraph, it's now preparing a legal counteroffensive that could further undermine Gianni Infantino's presidency.

According to The Telegraph, UEFA has sent an official notice to Gianni Infantino, demanding that FIFA preserve all documents, emails, and electronic communications related to the FFE project. The organization, led by Aleksander Čeferin, warns it is considering legal proceedings, arbitration, and regulatory complaints against FIFA and the parties involved in the case.

UEFA has also sent letters to several individuals and institutions linked to the project, including Joshua Kushner, the Thrive Eternal fund, Greg Maffei, JP Morgan, and OpenEconomics. All have been ordered to preserve any evidence that could be used in potential legal proceedings.

The European body also warns that any destruction or alteration of documents after this notification could be considered evidence tampering, with sanctions to follow.

A strategy that goes beyond simply withdrawing the project

This initiative is part of a broader strategy UEFA has been pursuing for several days. After threatening to boycott FIFA competitions, securing the withdrawal of the FFE project, and publicly questioning Gianni Infantino's governance, the European confederation is now moving to a new phase: seeking possible legal liabilities.

In a previous statement, UEFA had already declared that FIFA's current leadership had lost the trust of much of the football family and announced a thorough review of the circumstances that allowed the project to be developed. The Telegraph's revelations show that this promise is now being translated into concrete action.

An increasingly isolated president

The abandonment of the FFE project came after unprecedented opposition. All 55 UEFA member federations had announced they would boycott FIFA competitions if the project went ahead. Concacaf, the AFC, and then CONMEBOL also voiced deep concerns over the governance, lack of transparency, and absence of consultation surrounding the initiative.

Dissent has also grown within FIFA itself. According to Sky News, Gianni Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned, calling the project a "bad deal," while operations director Kevin Lamour denounced a project "driven by a single person" and said the staff had been misled.

Pressure that could weigh on the 2027 election

Beyond the legal front, this offensive comes just months before a major deadline. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, and Gianni Infantino is aiming for another term.

By ramping up criticism of FIFA's president over governance, transparency, and accountability, UEFA now seems intent on permanently weakening his legitimacy. If the legal actions move forward or if other confederations join the campaign, the battle over the FFE project could quickly escalate into a major institutional crisis—with direct consequences for Gianni Infantino's future at the helm of world football.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

Related teams and leagues

World Cup