Uefa raises stakes with criminal complaint in battle to unseat Infantino

Uefa has begun a legal process against the embattled Fifa president but it will still be an uphill struggle to remove him

Uefa raises stakes with criminal complaint in battle to unseat Infantino

TL;DR

  • Uefa is preparing a legal complaint against Fifa president Gianni Infantino in Switzerland for alleged "criminal mismanagement".
  • The complaint concerns Infantino's role in a failed World Cup sell-off plan involving the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
  • Uefa claims the FFE proposal had an "absurdly low enterprise value" and was a "sweetheart deal" for Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital.
  • Uefa is seeking disclosure of documents in the US relating to the abandoned FFE proposal.
  • The move escalates Uefa's efforts to unseat Infantino, who is seeking re-election.
  • Many Fifa member associations outside Europe are reportedly hesitant to turn against Infantino without evidence of criminal activity or personal enrichment.
  • Historical precedents of Fifa presidents resigning or being removed due to investigations and convictions are mentioned.