FIFA says legal applications made by UEFA to access documents related to FIFA’s failed $20 billion plan to sell a stake in the World Cup are part of a “smear campaign” against global soccer’s governing body.
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said on Aug. 27 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.
–
UEFA said it was seeking the documents for use in preparing potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland, in filings seen by ESPN on Aug. 27.
Read more:Kushner says he regrets role in FIFA’s World Cup sell-off plan
The following day, FIFA sought approval to oppose UEFA’s request in the Southern District of Florida, a motion which was granted by the court on the next business day, Aug. 31. FIFA has until Sept. 28 to submit a full opposition to that court.
A similar motion to oppose was also filed in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday. Documents from FIFA’s legal team seen by the Press Association describe UEFA’s applications as being “little more than press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership.”
FIFA’s filing asks the New York court to defer consideration on UEFA’s discovery application until the Florida court has ruled on it, or requests that the court permit FIFA permission to oppose UEFA’s application no later than Sept. 30.
The filing said UEFA’s motivation in its opposition to FFE and Infantino was “to prevent smaller countries from having the financial strength to compete with the European elite.”
Read more:Former first lady Jill Biden, writers and activists honor Gloria Steinem, who has died at 92
It added: “If soccer is strengthened in the developing world, global competition increases, which ultimately reduces UEFA’s market power and provides more competition for its flagship tournaments.
“By raising funds to allow some of FIFA’s smaller member associations to better develop soccer, FFE would lead to more players from those nations choosing to represent their countries of origin and playing in their home leagues rather than playing abroad.
“All of this would erode UEFA’s dominance over other regions of the world.”
Read more:Could vaccinating against shingles help prevent heart problems?
The plan was withdrawn by FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Aug. 1 amid opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf, the confederation for countries in North and Central America plus the Caribbean.
That withdrawal has not stopped UEFA pursuing Infantino and other FIFA officials. UEFA’s filing accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” in relation to FFE, and said the proposed sale of a stake for $4.2 billion in the company was “a fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit”.
In a separate statement published last week, UEFA called for an independent external review of the origins of the FFE and said that if Infantino chose to stand for re-election at next year’s FIFA Congress, UEFA would “join forces with its partner confederations to ensure that member associations are offered a credible alternative — one committed to integrity, accountability, development and genuine institutional change.”
PA contributed to this report.
