UEFA is preparing to file a criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a controversial plan to sell a 20% to 30% stake in the World Cup to private investors.
According to legal documents obtained by Complex, UEFA is seeking information from Thrive Capital Management, the New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, which was expected to lead the proposed investment group.
The deal reportedly valued a 20% stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise — covering World Cup broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing rights — at around $4.2 billion.
UEFA has questioned the valuation, arguing that it implied a total value of about $20 billion and was neither determined through a competitive process nor independently assessed.
The European governing body alleges that Infantino pushed the proposal through FIFA’s internal approval process without sufficient scrutiny.
UEFA’s filing says its request for documents and communications from Thrive and Kushner comes ahead of a “contemplated criminal proceeding” in a Swiss court.
The proposed sale was ultimately derailed after the threat of a boycott emerged, putting the controversial plan under intense scrutiny.
The latest development could significantly escalate tensions between UEFA and FIFA as questions continue to surround the proposed deal and its valuation.
Main Image: Reuters
