FIFA Accuses UEFA of ‘Misinformation Campaign’ Amid Infantino Presidency Row

FIFA has accused UEFA of running a "misinformation campaign" and attempting to influence the race for FIFA's presidency, according to new court documents.

The row escalated last month when UEFA filed legal papers in the United States seeking the disclosure of evidence and documents from FIFA, warning it could also lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland. In its filing, UEFA accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and pointed to what it called "a fraudulently off-market price promoted by [him] for his own benefit" in connection with the now abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme.

FIFA hit back on Monday night, rejecting UEFA's claims outright. In its response, filed in the Southern District of Florida opposing UEFA's motion for discovery, FIFA said the filing contained "numerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and Infantino."

"With no basis whatsoever, UEFA suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal," FIFA said. "UEFA's suggestions that Mr Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically without merit."

FIFA also described UEFA's request as "farcically overbroad," adding that "districts faced with similar requests have outright rejected such applications."

UEFA has been approached for comment. Sources close to the situation say that if FIFA has nothing to hide, it should release the documents and allow the legal process to move faster.

UEFA has been leading the pushback against Infantino, who is now facing calls to step down from three separate confederations. The controversy stems from FIFA's now shelved plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, a proposal that triggered a significant backlash across football. Infantino faced calls to resign over the plan but maintained it was designed to bring extra money into the game.

Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who also serves as a FIFA vice-president, called on Infantino to release all documents relating to the plan and pushed for an independent review of the scheme.

Infantino is set to seek a fourth term as FIFA president at elections in March 2027, with his opponents having until November 18 to put forward an alternative candidate.