The rebellion against Infantino grows: UEFA seeks a rival to strip him of control of FIFA

UEFA, the governing body of European football, threatened FIFA with legal action over the failed plan by Gianni Infantino to sell a stake in future World Cup earnings to private investors, and stated that no potential evidence should be destroyed.

The proposal, kept secret by Infantino, to raise $4.2 billion from investors, including Joshua Kushner's New York investment firm, was abandoned early Saturday, days after a report in the press caused a worldwide stir.

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UEFA led the reaction, and on Thursday, its 55 member associations met to agree to boycott all FIFA events and competitions while the proposal was in effect.

Now, UEFA's lawyers have informed FIFA that the European body is “actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints... arising from and in connection with the proposed FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise) plan and all related matters.”

The letter, dated Friday and sent by the law firm Dechert in New York, was seen on Monday by The Associated Press.

The letter named 18 FIFA executives who, it stated, must preserve data, documents, and electronic messages as potential evidence. Among them are Infantino, Zurich-based Chief Financial Officer Thomas Peyer, and Arsène Wenger, the famous coach who serves as FIFA's chief of global football development.

“UEFA formally notifies you that any destruction, deletion, alteration, concealment, or loss of relevant materials following the receipt of this notice—or any earlier date on which you were, or reasonably should have been, aware that proceedings were contemplated—may constitute spoliation of evidence,” the letter stated.

Europa busca un candidato rival para dirigir la FIFA

The Swedish Football Association confirmed on Monday that UEFA is actively seeking to “present an alternative candidate” for FIFA president. The next election is scheduled for March.

UEFA signaled on Saturday that it wants to end Infantino's decade-long presidency, stating that he had lost the confidence of world football and that “no options should be ruled out.”

Hours earlier, Infantino withdrew the controversial proposal that offered each of FIFA's 211 member associations one-time payments of $20 million, with a deadline to accept by mid-September.

The FFE spin-off, valued by FIFA at $20 billion, would have taken control of the football body's commercial and tournament operations—the ones that generate revenue—until at least 2038. It promised to more than double development money for the 211 members during that period, who already, in practice, are the owners of the Zurich-based non-profit governing body.

It was a one-man project, stated FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, in a stern statement sent Friday to the AP, in which he indicated that staff felt misled by their boss, Infantino.

Legal proceedings “are reasonably foreseeable,” wrote UEFA lawyer Andrew J. Levander, citing the conviction of football stakeholders that the plan was “fundamentally incompatible with proper football governance.”

Oposición a Infantino

UEFA has been the most vocal against its former employee Infantino, while the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, the governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, have also issued strong statements opposing Infantino's plan.

Infantino has stronger support in his traditional base in Africa, while South America's CONMEBOL relies on him to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams from 48. That would give more hosting matches to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the home country of CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez.

Infantino’s path to stabilizing the presidency he has held for 10 and a half years was unclear on Monday, which began in New York with a report that he was seeking support from the administration of his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, possibly in a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“There are no plans for @SecRubio to speak with Infantino and there is no call this morning,” posted Dylan Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, on social media.

A week is a long time in politics.

The private equity plan has triggered a staggering reversal in Infantino’s fortunes since it was revealed last Tuesday by The Times of London.

Infantino, 56, left New York after the World Cup final two weeks ago seemingly with his reelection secured unopposed next March for a fourth and final term until 2031.

The spin-off operation could have created a commissioner-like role for him beyond 2031, with compensation far higher than his current annual salary and $6 million bonus package as president.

FIFA reported during the World Cup that Infantino had obtained pledged support letters from about 200 of the 211 member associations.

Now it is likely those letters are being withdrawn across Europe, with the Football Association of Wales the first to announce its change of stance.

The deadline to submit candidacies is November 18, for an election exactly four months later in Morocco, one of Infantino’s staunchest allies and co-host of the 2030 tournament alongside Spain and Portugal.