UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the Swiss courts for alleged financial mismanagement over his failed to $20 billion plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup, sources have told ESPN.
Infantino is facing accusations of “fraudulently” offering the stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) without due process and consultation with the FIFA hierarchy.
UEFA, European football’s governing body said on Thursday it had filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund, Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner.
Thrive and Kushner were to be the anchor investors intending to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary that would run the soccer body’s commercial events, including the World Cup.
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ESPN has seen the 60-page document, which was handed to FIFA at its North America headquarters at Coral Gables, Florida, and to Thrive and JP Morgan in New York.
Financier Greg Maffei, CEO of BANN Ventures, have also been handed the document at their base in Denver, Colorado.
All of the above have been ordered to provide all documentation and communication relating to the controversial FFE sell-off plan. UEFA is now considering criminal proceedings in Switzerland — FIFA’s main HQ is in Nyon, Switzerland — following a review of available evidence.
“UEFA and its counsel are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code,” UEFA’s lawyers state in the 60-page document.
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The document suggests the $4.2 billion figure could be a “fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.”
Infantino dropped the sell-off plan on Aug. 1 after a furious backlash by global football leaders, including UEFA, AFC (Asian Federation) and Concacaf.
UEFA backed down from its threat to boycott all FIFA tournaments earlier this week after receiving assurances that there will be no future attempt to sell off a stake in the not-for-profit global football body.
