Overview
- FIFA withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal to sell about 20% of a new World Cup commercial vehicle after widespread backlash and criticism of its $4.2bn valuation.
- In late August, UEFA filed ex parte discovery requests in multiple U.S. federal courts seeking testimony and documents from U.S. entities, including investor Thrive Capital and banks, to build material for possible criminal complaints in Switzerland.
- FIFA responded with motions filed in U.S. courts this week seeking to oppose or delay UEFA’s requests and called UEFA’s filings a “smear campaign” that improperly uses U.S. courts to pursue foreign prosecutions.
- Finland, Sweden and Denmark have asked the European Commissioner for Sport for a meeting to raise governance concerns about FIFA, and several federations have withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino’s expected 2027 re‑election bid.
- The dispute centers on transparency, investor scrutiny of Joshua Kushner’s Thrive, and who pays legal costs, with reports saying FIFA would cover Infantino’s legal bills for actions taken in his presidential role.