UEFA Considers Legal Action Against FIFA Over World Cup Profit Plan
The European soccer body UEFA is considering legal action against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over a now-abandoned plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors. UEFA has formally notified FIFA that evidence related…
Detroit, MI, August 3, 2026 —
Zurich, Switzerland – The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is contemplating legal action against the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and its president, Gianni Infantino. The potential lawsuit stems from a previously considered plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors.
UEFA has officially informed FIFA that relevant evidence concerning this plan must be preserved. The European governing body issued a formal notification, emphasizing the importance of preventing the destruction of any data related to the proposed financial arrangement.
The plan, which has since been abandoned, involved engaging with private equity firms to secure investment in exchange for a share of revenues generated from future FIFA World Cup tournaments. Details regarding the specific investors considered or the proposed valuation of the stake were not immediately available.
FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, has been a central figure in the discussions surrounding such financial strategies. UEFA’s move to consider legal action indicates a significant disagreement and potential breach of governance principles between the two major football organizations.
The specific grounds for the potential legal action by UEFA were not fully detailed in the notification. However, concerns are likely to center on FIFA’s handling of its commercial rights and the potential impact on the sport’s long-term financial structure. The preservation notice suggests that UEFA believes there may be grounds for a formal challenge to FIFA’s past actions or decisions related to the proposed deal.
FIFA has not yet issued a public statement regarding UEFA’s notification or the potential legal proceedings. The situation highlights ongoing tensions and scrutiny regarding FIFA’s commercial operations and governance under President Infantino.
Story summarized from the original created by Graham Dunbar, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
