UEFA has launched a significant legal escalation against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, applying in the United States for the release of documents as it prepares to bring criminal charges in Switzerland alleging criminal mismanagement linked to the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
Cross‑border legal move seeks US discovery
The European governing body has used a so‑called section 1782 application to request evidence from entities in the United States. That mechanism allows parties to a foreign legal proceeding to seek discovery from US‑based persons or organisations. UEFA says the material sought is relevant to a potential Swiss criminal case under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
In formal filings, UEFA and its legal advisers make plain they are "preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino and possible other FIFA officials and advisors for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code".
Focus on proposed sale and valuation
Court documents highlighted by UEFA draw attention to the commercial assumptions underpinning Infantino's aborted plan to attract private investment into a vehicle that would have taken on a stake in FIFA tournaments. UEFA's lawyers said the proposal implied an enterprise value far lower than might be expected for the international football rights at issue.
"absurdly low enterprise value of only approximately $20bn"
The filings focus on a proposal in which a 20% stake in FIFA tournaments was priced at about $4.2bn — a figure UEFA argues was "neither the product of an open, competitive auction, nor tested by any independent valuer".
| Item | Figure cited |
|---|---|
| Implied enterprise value | ~$20bn |
| Proposed 20% sale price | $4.2bn |
Preservation order and named executives
UEFA's lawyers have also issued a formal preservation notice, instructing Mr Infantino and FIFA to "identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information" related to the scheme. The notice specifies 14 executives who are required to retain such materials that may be relevant to the inquiry.
The move signals UEFA's intention to develop a factual record that could support criminal accusations in Switzerland; its filings state that under Swiss law UEFA and its member associations do not need to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits before initiating a criminal proceeding.
Implications for football governance
The legal action marks a serious deterioration in relations between Europe's governing body and FIFA leadership. If UEFA proceeds to file criminal charges in Switzerland, it would open a high‑profile judicial examination of decision‑making at the top of world football. The use of US discovery tools underlines the global footprint of the arrangements at the centre of the dispute and the lengths to which UEFA is willing to go to secure documentary evidence.
- Section 1782 application made in the United States to obtain evidence.
- UEFA is contemplating criminal proceedings under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code for alleged criminal mismanagement.
- Legal papers question a valuation that implies an enterprise value of around $20bn after a proposed $4.2bn sale for 20%.
FIFA was contacted for comment. UEFA's actions will be closely watched by national associations, broadcasters, and commercial partners who rely on the integrity and stability of the sport's governing institutions. Any criminal case in Switzerland would be complex, likely protracted and could reverberate through sponsorship, broadcast deals and the wider governance debate within football.
For now, the matter centres on documentary evidence and the legal thresholds for a Swiss prosecution. UEFA's US filing marks the beginning of what may be a protracted, multi‑jurisdictional inquiry into one of the most contentious proposals put forward at the global level of the game.
