UEFA Weighs Criminal Complaint Against FIFA’s Gianni Infantino

UEFA is considering filing a criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over alleged criminal mismanagement, according to documents filed in a U.S. federal court. The dispute stems from Infantino’s unsuccessful proposal to sell minority ownership stakes in a new commercial enterprise tied to the World Cup.

In a filing Thursday in federal court in Florida, UEFA said it was preparing a possible criminal complaint “against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials and advisors.” The European soccer governing body is seeking access to records that it says could help determine how the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise was structured and approved.

UEFA asked the court to consider subpoenas directed at FIFA Americas for documents and communications concerning the proposed venture, including dealings with Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Josh Kushner, and BANN Ventures, founded by Greg Maffei. BANN had been identified as an adviser to the proposed transaction.

The requested material includes records involving the “structuring, financing, and negotiation” of the proposal, along with communications between Infantino and Kushner, Maffei and their respective advisers. The subpoenas were served on Thrive in New York and BANN in Colorado on Thursday. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to UEFA’s filing, records held by FIFA could help establish whether the proposed $4.2 billion price for a 20% stake in the World Cup was a legitimate valuation or “a fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.” The filing further alleges that Infantino “unilaterally designated” Thrive as the lead investor and advanced the proposal through FIFA’s internal process following a “hastily convened meeting” in which a limited group of management officials and employees, some of whom were unfamiliar with the proposal, had only hours to approve what UEFA described as an unprecedented multibillion-dollar transaction.

UEFA also challenged the proposed $20 billion valuation of the World Cup, describing it as “absurdly low” and arguing that it was not established through an open competitive auction or independently assessed by a valuer. Lawyers for UEFA are seeking valuation analyses, due-diligence materials prepared by advisers, records concerning the internal approval process and “agreements, term sheets, and transaction documents” connected to the proposed transaction. Thrive declined to comment, while BANN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

UEFA said in the filing that it believes Infantino’s actions could reach “the level of criminal mismanagement.” The organization also acknowledged that under Swiss law, it does not have to establish in advance that a potential criminal case is likely to succeed before pursuing the matter.

Infantino introduced the proposal in July, only weeks after FIFA completed the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The plan called for investors to acquire 20% of a newly created commercial enterprise responsible for the World Cup’s “commercial and event operations,” with Thrive serving as the lead investor.

The proposal quickly generated opposition, with UEFA becoming the most prominent confederation to challenge it. UEFA and its 55 member associations in Europe threatened to boycott future FIFA events, and Infantino withdrew from the proposal only days after announcing it. UEFA leadership has continued to criticize Infantino, with the organization maintaining that it has “no confidence” in his leadership following the controversy.

Josh Kushner’s estimated net worth is $16.7 billion. He is the son of New Jersey real estate developer and current U.S. ambassador to France Charles Kushner and the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump. Thrive has also expanded into sports investments, acquiring a minority stake in the San Francisco Giants in April. Earlier this month, Kushner joined a group of investors that purchased an ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for a reported record $12.5 billion.