**Title: UEFA Seeks to Block FIFA Subsidiaries' Intervention in US Court Case**
In a significant legal development, UEFA, the governing body for European football, has filed a motion in a Manhattan federal court to prevent FIFA's American subsidiaries from intervening in its efforts to gather evidence for a potential criminal case against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This case is centered around Infantino's controversial plan regarding the commercial rights associated with the World Cup.
The motion was submitted late Thursday, as UEFA aims to obtain documents and testimony from Thrive Capital Management and its founder, Joshua Kushner. UEFA contends that Kushner may possess critical information related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise transaction, a plan that Infantino abruptly withdrew on August 1, 2026, following widespread criticism from various football organizations and stakeholders.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative proposed the sale of a permanent stake in the commercial and operational rights tied to FIFA events, including the World Cup, to private investors. The backlash against this proposal has prompted UEFA to consider filing a criminal complaint in Switzerland, alleging potential criminal mismanagement by Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials. Notably, neither Infantino nor FIFA has been formally charged with any wrongdoing.
In its filing, UEFA argued that FIFA’s American subsidiaries, FIFA (Americas) Inc and FWC2026 US Inc, are improperly attempting to act as proxies for FIFA and Infantino, who have not sought to join the ongoing legal proceedings. UEFA emphasized that the subsidiaries lack a direct legal interest in the New York case, as they are not targets of the anticipated Swiss investigation and are not recipients of any proposed subpoenas.
FIFA has responded to UEFA's actions by accusing the organization of orchestrating a "smear campaign" and characterizing UEFA's discovery applications as a fishing expedition designed to undermine FIFA and its leadership. FIFA did not provide an immediate comment regarding UEFA's recent filings.
UEFA's argument also highlighted that the confidentiality concerns raised by the American subsidiaries should pertain to FIFA as their Swiss parent company, rather than to the subsidiaries themselves. Furthermore, UEFA pointed out that Thrive and Kushner already have legal representation that can challenge any subpoenas issued against them.
The court has yet to make a ruling on UEFA's discovery application or the motion for intervention filed by FIFA's subsidiaries. UEFA expressed concerns that allowing the subsidiaries to intervene would introduce unnecessary delays, complicating the legal process and extending the timeline before UEFA could access the requested records.
As the legal battle unfolds, Infantino is preparing for his candidacy in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections scheduled for March 2027, where he aims to secure a fourth term in office. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for both UEFA and FIFA, as well as for the governance of football on a global scale.
The situation remains fluid, with both legal and political ramifications as UEFA seeks to clarify the circumstances surrounding Infantino's actions and the broader implications for FIFA's governance.