A major dispute has broken out in world football after UEFA threatened legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over a controversial World Cup rights sale plan.

UEFA threatens FIFA with legal action even after FIFA canceled its plan to sell part of its commercial rights. The decision has led to a major dispute between football's two biggest governing bodies and raised fresh questions about how the sport should be managed.

Earlier this week, FIFA announced a plan to raise US$4.2 billion by selling about 20% of a new company that would handle the media and commercial rights for its biggest tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup. Reports said that investors linked to Joshua Kushner were interested in buying a stake in the business.

The proposal was strongly criticized by UEFA. Europe's football governing body said the plan could give private investors too much control over football and was not the right direction for the game.

FIFA Drops the Plan, But the Dispute Continues

After facing heavy criticism, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday that the organization would no longer move forward with the plan. Even so, UEFA says the matter is not over. The organization has sent a formal letter to Infantino saying it is considering legal action. UEFA also asked FIFA to keep all emails, documents, and other records related to the proposal because they could be needed if the case goes to court.

"UEFA has strongly condemned the plan as fundamentally incompatible with the proper governance of football," the organization said in its letter.

The letter was also reportedly sent to several people and companies connected to the proposal, including Joshua Kushner, Greg Maffei, JP Morgan, and OpenEconomics.

Why Is UEFA Taking Such a Strong Stand?

UEFA believes football's biggest competitions should not be influenced by private investors. It says decisions about the sport should always put football first, not business interests. Reports also claimed the proposed deal could have increased Infantino's yearly salary from €3 million to €30 million, although FIFA has not confirmed those reports.

Earlier, UEFA warned that its 55 member associations could boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal went ahead. Although FIFA has now withdrawn the plan, UEFA says it has lost trust in FIFA's leadership and wants those responsible to be held accountable.

Although FIFA has dropped the proposal, the dispute between the two organizations is still continuing. As Business Fortune observes, UEFA decides to take legal action and the case could affect how FIFA makes major business decisions in the future and could shape the future of football governance around the world.

 

FAQs

Why is UEFA threatening legal action against FIFA?

UEFA believes FIFA's proposed sale of commercial rights was incompatible with good football governance and is considering legal and regulatory action.

What was FIFA planning to sell?

FIFA planned to sell about 20% of a new company that would manage media and commercial rights for tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup.

Why did FIFA withdraw the proposal?

FIFA dropped the plan after facing strong opposition from UEFA and the threat of a boycott by UEFA's 55 member associations.

Who were the reported investors?

Media reports said a foundation linked to Joshua Kushner was among the potential investors, although the deal was never completed.

What could happen next?

UEFA is reviewing possible legal, arbitration, and regulatory action, meaning the dispute could continue even after FIFA abandoned the proposal.