UEFA threatens FIFA chief Gianni Infantino with legal action FAST-MOVING
The European football federation UEFA has issued formal letters to FIFA president Gianni Infantino demanding that all documents and electronic records related to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) be preserved and not destroyed. The letters also state that UEFA is considering legal steps, arbitration and regulatory complaints over the failed investor plan.
The FFE plan would have created a new subsidiary to sell roughly 20 % of the commercial rights to FIFA’s major tournaments, valuing the venture at about US$20 billion. Technology investor Joshua Kushner, through his firm Thrive, was identified as a potential key partner. After intense backlash from football bodies and the public, FIFA withdrew the plan.
German Football Association (DFB) managing director Andreas Rettig described Infantino’s actions as causing an “irreparable loss of trust”. The English FA and Welsh FA have also announced they will withdraw their support for Infantino’s re‑election as FIFA president. UEFA has warned of possible boycotts of FIFA competitions if the plan proceeds.
Entities: Andreas Rettig · Deutscher Fußballbund (German Football Association) · FIFA · FIFA Forward Enterprise · FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) · Gianni Infantino · Joshua Kushner · UEFA
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 7 SOURCES] UEFA demanded that FIFA preserve all documents related to the investor plan and not destroy any material. (ce1e52f7-8219-4e1f-908d-28d57cde4e58, 41f43058-e7c1-4788-80e4-863ef60bee19, 8f905af4-7cd9-4def-b157-82657f4666b8)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The investor plan was withdrawn after massive backlash from football bodies and the public. (41f43058-e7c1-4788-80e4-863ef60bee19, 8f905af4-7cd9-4def-b157-82657f4666b8)
- [● 6 SOURCES] FIFA planned to create a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to sell commercial rights. (ce1e52f7-8219-4e1f-908d-28d57cde4e58, 8f905af4-7cd9-4def-b157-82657f4666b8)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The English FA and Welsh FA announced they will withdraw support for Infantino’s re‑election as FIFA president. (d94171e8-8e96-4873-b79c-00c113e54075)
- [● 6 SOURCES] UEFA threatened Gianni Infantino with legal action over the failed investor deal. (ce1e52f7-8219-4e1f-908d-28d57cde4e58)
- [● 4 SOURCES] DFB managing director Andreas Rettig said Infantino caused an irreparable loss of trust. (61c0d1fc-2f29-4437-bbbc-edde525b2842)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The proposed sale would have offered about 20 % of FFE shares, valued at $20 billion. (ce1e52f7-8219-4e1f-908d-28d57cde4e58, 8f905af4-7cd9-4def-b157-82657f4666b8)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Technology investor Joshua Kushner was identified as a potential key partner in the FFE project. (ce1e52f7-8219-4e1f-908d-28d57cde4e58, 41f43058-e7c1-4788-80e4-863ef60bee19, 8f905af4-7cd9-4def-b157-82657f4666b8)