- Uefa is preparing to file a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Fifa president Gianni Infantino for “criminal mismanagement” following a failed proposal to sell off commercial stakes in the World Cup.
- A 56-page legal document filed in Florida by Uefa lawyers accuses Infantino of attempting to sell a 20 per cent stake in the tournament to private investors for $4.2bn, an amount described as an absurdly low enterprise value.
- Uefa claims that Infantino and others stood to gain financially from the process, which lacked an open, competitive auction or independent valuation, directly damaging the commercial and reputational interests of Uefa and its 55 members.
- The plan, which involved investor Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, collapsed after Uefa threatened to boycott the World Cup and other Fifa competitions.
- Uefa has called off its boycott after receiving assurances from Fifa, but is seeking evidence from Florida-based Fifa entities to support its upcoming Swiss criminal proceedings against Infantino.
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