Football's European governing body has pushed back hard against plans that could have changed the sport forever. Uefa has threatened FIFA with legal action over a controversial proposal to sell stakes in major tournaments to private investors — and the pressure appears to have worked.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had proposed creating a commercial company called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run events like the World Cup, allowing outside investors to buy minority stakes in it. The plan drew immediate criticism from governing bodies across Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. Now, the backlash has turned into something more formal.
In a letter first reported by The Telegraph, Uefa told Infantino it was "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and regulatory complaints" connected to the FFE plan. Uefa also demanded that all documents related to the proposal — including emails, text messages on platforms like WhatsApp and Signal, and meeting notes — be preserved immediately, superseding any normal document deletion policies.
Infantino had tried to win support by offering money directly to the people who could approve his plan. He wrote to all 211 FIFA member associations promising $40 million if they backed the proposal, with a September 19 deadline to claim an initial $20 million payment. The offer came as Wales became the first nation to publicly withdraw its backing for Infantino's continued presidency, a significant symbolic move.
An American venture capital firm called Thrive Eternal was expected to lead the proposed investor group. The firm was founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to Donald Trump's daughter.
The English Football Association has also said it will write to Infantino withdrawing its previous support. FIFA has not yet commented publicly on the legal threat.
The episode shows how football's existing power structures can push back when they feel the sport's governance is at stake — and how individual nations can make their voices heard before a decision is made.