FIFA accuses UEFA of 'misinformation campaign' in response to filing

Sept 28 - FIFA accused UEFA of waging a "misinformation campaign" and trying to influence the race for its presidency as world soccer's governing body urged a US court to reject a discovery request linked to a controversial investment proposal.

Last month, UEFA asked a US federal court for permission to obtain testimony and documents for use in a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over a now-abandoned plan to transfer World Cup commercial rights into a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

In its response to the filing on Monday, FIFA said UEFA's brief contained "numerous false or misleading statements about FIFA and Infantino".

"With no basis whatsoever, UEFA suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal," FIFA said in a filing in the Southern District of Florida, opposing UEFA’s motion for discovery.

"As explained, the FFE plan was subject to approval by both the FIFA member associations and FIFA Council, and FFE would have been subject to oversight by both groups within FIFA.

"UEFA's suggestions that Mr Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically without merit."

UEFA did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

FFE VALUATION

UEFA alleged Infantino developed the proposal in secret with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing FIFA's normal governance processes and failing to consult FIFA's Council, regional confederations or member associations.

The filing seen by Reuters asked a US court to authorise discovery from FIFA (AMERICAS), Inc and FWC2026 US, Inc, two Florida-based FIFA entities.

UEFA said in the legal filing that investors would have paid $4.2 billion for a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise, valuing the business at about $20 billion.

It added that the valuation significantly undervalued FIFA's commercial rights and alleged it was not subjected to an open auction or tested by an independent valuer.

"UEFA, whether deliberately or through ignorance, conflates equity value with enterprise value," FIFA said.

"It is undisputed that FFE's 'initial equity valuation' — meaning 'the value that remains for the shareholders after any debts have been paid off' — was $20 billion.

"Materials distributed to FIFA's member associations reveal that FFE's total 'enterprise value' on the other hand — meaning the 'entire value of the business' — was well over $30 billion...

"Indeed, FFE's enterprise value was well in excess of twice the equity value, and therefore far above the value UEFA says would be fair."

ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE ELECTION?

The FFE project was abandoned in July following opposition from confederations, including UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, over a lack of consultation, with the dispute fuelling demands for changes to FIFA's governance.

Last week, Infantino wrote to all 211 member associations proposing an independent review of the governing body's decision-making processes.

The Swiss administrator is up for reelection in March next year, with FIFA alleging that UEFA's legal filings were an attempt to influence that election.

"Just before FIFA's election, UEFA filed this 1782 Application (and three others) spreading misinformation regarding Mr. Infantino," FIFA said.

"This court should reject any attempt to influence FIFA’s presidential election based on these grounds." REUTERS