UEFA Takes Legal Aim at FIFA’s Infantino with Swiss Criminal Complaint Over World Cup Sell-Off

UEFA Takes Legal Aim at FIFA’s Infantino with Swiss Criminal Complaint Over World Cup Sell-Off

In a dramatic escalation of football’s civil war, European governing body UEFA is preparing to file a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts over possible financial mismanagement tied to his failed plan to offload World Cup commercial rights and hosting assets. The move marks a profound shift from political rhetoric to criminal proceedings, plunging the sport’s power dynamics into uncharted legal territory.

The complaint, which sources say is in advanced stages of preparation, targets Infantino personally and centers on the aborted sell-off scheme that sought to hand lucrative World Cup packages to a consortium of investors. That plan collapsed amid fierce opposition from UEFA and other stakeholders, who argued it threatened the independence and integrity of the tournament. Now, Europe’s administrators are taking the fight to the Swiss judicial system, where FIFA has been headquartered for decades.

The Failed World Cup Sell-Off Plan

At the heart of the dispute is a proposal championed by Infantino to bundle a portfolio of World Cup rights—including broadcasting, sponsorship, and possibly even hosting decisions—into a new entity backed by outside capital. The idea, first floated in 2018 and quietly developed over subsequent years, was pitched as a way to unlock billions in fresh revenue. However, critics within football’s upper echelons saw it as a dangerous centralization of power that could strip confederations and member associations of control over the sport’s crown jewel.

UEFA, which successfully blocked the plan in 2021, has long raised concerns over transparency and governance. The planned criminal complaint now suggests that European officials believe the affair goes beyond a policy dispute and may involve concrete financial misconduct. While the exact allegations remain under wraps, the focus appears to be on whether Infantino and his inner circle breached Switzerland’s strict laws on commercial fidelity and misappropriation of assets.

Swiss Jurisdiction: A Critical Arena

The choice of Switzerland as the legal venue carries immense symbolic and practical weight. FIFA has operated under Swiss law since its founding in 1904, and the country’s courts have previously handled high-profile football corruption cases, including the 2015 crisis that led to the arrests of several officials at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich. By launching a criminal complaint in Swiss courts, UEFA is signaling that it will no longer accept internal FIFA processes as a sufficient check on the president’s power.

Swiss authorities have historically been reluctant to intervene in sports governance, but recent years have seen a gradual hardening of stance, particularly after the 2018 trial of former FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke and the ongoing investigations into the awarding of World Cups to Russia and Qatar. A criminal complaint from UEFA, backed by the organization’s substantial legal resources, could force prosecutors to take a deeper look at FIFA’s internal dealings.

UEFA-FIFA Power Struggle Intensifies

The legal offensive is the latest salvo in a bitter rift between UEFA and FIFA that has widened since Infantino took the helm in 2016. The two organizations have clashed over the biennial World Cup proposal, the expanded Club World Cup, the European Super League fallout, and most recently, FIFA’s decision to explore a new global “One Love” armband initiative that UEFA viewed as encroaching on its turf.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has previously described Infantino’s leadership style as dangerously expansive, and the relationship between the two men, once allies, has grown icy. The criminal complaint turns a personal feud into an institutional one, with UEFA betting that Swiss law can succeed where political pressure failed.

If the complaint is formally lodged—and all indications point to that happening in the coming weeks—it would mark the first time a continental confederation has sought criminal proceedings against a sitting FIFA president. That alone underscores the gravity of the moment for world football.

What Happens Next

The Swiss legal process typically begins with a written complaint to the competent cantonal prosecutor, after which authorities decide whether to open a formal investigation. Because the allegations concern a person of Infantino’s prominence, the case could quickly rise to the federal level. Swiss attorney general’s office, which already oversees several FIFA-linked cases, would likely take the lead.

FIFA has not yet commented on the specifics of the looming complaint, but a spokesperson reiterated that the organization operates with “full respect for Swiss law and the highest standards of governance.” Infantino, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, is expected to mount a vigorous defense.

For UEFA, the stakes are enormous. A successful criminal complaint could severely weaken Infantino’s grip on FIFA and reshape the balance of power in global football. An unsuccessful one could leave Europe isolated and deepen the fractures that already threaten the sport’s unity.

As the drama unfolds, all eyes will be on the Swiss courts—and on whether football’s most powerful figures can survive a reckoning that has now moved from the boardroom to the bench.