UEFA issues a formal warning and demands document preservation from FIFA President Gianni Infantino as it considers legal action over a failed rights sale.
MOSCOW: The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) notified FIFA President Gianni Infantino in writing that it was considering filing a lawsuit and demanded that he preserve all materials related to the organisation’s planned sale of commercial rights, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
On Tuesday, FIFA announced its intention to raise US$4.2 billion by selling approximately 20 per cent of the shares of a new entity, which will handle the organisation’s media and commercial rights, including those for the World Cup, to private investors. Media reports indicated that the shares could be acquired by the foundation of Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced a boycott of FIFA competitions by all its members until the offer is fully withdrawn. On Saturday night, Infantino announced that, amid the controversy, the federation had abandoned its plan to sell some of its commercial rights. According to media reports, the project would have increased the FIFA president’s annual salary from 3 million euros to 30 million euros.
“Uefa hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints (together, the “proceedings”) arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by Fifa and all related matters as further described below,” UEFA’s letter says, as quoted by The Telegraph.
“You and Fifa are required to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or Fifa’s possession, custody, or control,” it added.
Earlier, after Infantino abandoned plans to sell some of FIFA’s commercial rights to private investors, UEFA issued a statement announcing a loss of confidence in the organisation’s leadership and its intention to hold those responsible for the plan accountable.
–BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
