Infantino faces possible Swiss criminal case over abandoned World Cup rights plan

UEFA is preparing to pursue criminal proceedings in Switzerland against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a now-abandoned plan to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights to third parties.

The European governing body has applied to a federal court in the United States for permission to obtain documents and testimony from FIFA offices in Florida. UEFA says the material could be used in a potential criminal case in Switzerland, the home country of both Infantino and FIFA.

The details are contained in a document submitted by UEFA to ANP. The request is part of the governing body’s efforts to gather evidence connected to the proposed commercial project, which was developed by Infantino but has since been dropped.

UEFA’s filing indicates that any legal action could extend beyond the FIFA president. It says other FIFA officials and advisers may also face criminal proceedings in Switzerland.

Sky Sports, which cited the document, reported that the potential allegations could involve “disloyal management”. No criminal charges have been confirmed against Infantino or any of the other individuals mentioned in the filing.

The document also refers to Thrive Capital, a US investment company that had been expected to become the main investor in the commercial plan. The company’s involvement is therefore included within the scope of the information UEFA is seeking from FIFA’s offices in Florida.

The proposed sale of part of the World Cup rights to outside parties is no longer going ahead. However, UEFA’s request to the US court shows that the abandoned plan remains the subject of scrutiny and could lead to proceedings in Switzerland.

At this stage, UEFA is seeking access to evidence rather than announcing that a Swiss criminal case has formally been opened. The information gathered in the United States would be used in considering possible proceedings against Infantino, other FIFA officials and advisers.

Infantino is the president of FIFA, while UEFA is the governing body responsible for football in Europe. Both organisations are involved in the international football structure, and Switzerland is relevant to the matter because it is the country where both FIFA and Infantino are based.

The filing does not state that a prosecution has already begun. Instead, it outlines UEFA’s intention to obtain records and witness testimony that could support a future case. The potential proceedings would relate specifically to the proposed World Cup rights arrangement and the way the project was managed.

Thrive Capital’s expected role as the main investor means the company is also linked to the plan described in UEFA’s submission. The proposal has now been abandoned, but UEFA is continuing to pursue information about it through the US legal system.