Fifa accuses Uefa of ‘misinformation campaign’ in US court filings

Fifa has accused Uefa of a "misinformation campaign" and of attempting to influence the race for its presidential campaign in new court documents filed in the Southern District of Florida on Monday. The accusation arrives amid a broader dispute over the now-shelved Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.

Last month Uefa filed legal papers in the United States requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa and warned it could lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland. In that filing Uefa accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and "a fraudulently off-market price promoted by [him] for his own benefit" in relation to the FFE proposal.

In its response on Monday night Fifa said Uefa's filing contained "numerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and Infantino." "With no basis whatsoever, Uefa suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal," Fifa said in a filing in the Southern District of Florida opposing Uefa's motion for discovery. "Uefa's suggestions that Mr Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically without merit."

Fifa also described Uefa's request as "farcically overbroad," adding that "districts faced with similar requests have outright rejected such applications." The world governing body lodged those objections as part of its formal opposition to Uefa's motion for discovery in the Florida court.

The FFE plan proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, a proposal that prompted a major backlash. Infantino faced calls for his resignation over the scheme but said the project had been intended to generate additional money for the game.

BBC Sport has contacted Uefa for comment. BBC Sport has been told insiders believe that if Fifa has nothing to hide, it should disclose the documents and speed up the legal process; Uefa has led the rebellion against the Fifa president, who is facing calls to stand down from three confederations.

Earlier this month Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, told Infantino to release all documents relating to his controversial plan and called for an independent review of FFE.

Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027. His opponents have until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.