UEFA prepares criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The governing body for soccer in Europe is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts for possible financial mismanagement over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors, reports BritPanorama.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stated on Thursday that it filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from New York investment fund Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner, who is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
UEFA has also sought approval in a southern Florida district for discovery “in a foreign proceeding” against FIFA itself, which operates from its offices in Coral Gables, Miami.
Thrive and Kushner were set to be the anchor investors, intending to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary that would manage the soccer body’s commercial events, including the World Cup.
“UEFA and its counsel are contemplating a Swiss criminal proceeding against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code,” UEFA’s lawyers stated in a 56-page document seen by the Associated Press.
The document indicates that the $4.2 billion price might be a “fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.”
Infantino abandoned the sell-off plan on August 1 after significant backlash from global soccer leaders, including UEFA.
