Fifa loses court bid to block Uefa probe into Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan
Legal efforts by Fifa to prevent Uefa from securing disclosure documents from Thrive Capital and JP Morgan have been thrown out by a court in New York. The order centres on the collapsed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.
The project, spearheaded by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, aimed to manage commercial interests for the World Cup and other tournaments by offering private investors a minority stake. It was abandoned in August following rejection by three continental confederations.
Uefa had threatened to boycott Fifa competitions and, last month, demanded answers regarding a series of questions about FFE and broader concerns under Infantino’s presidency.
Those enquiries focused on the decision to give exclusivity to Thrive Capital to lead the group of private investors. Thrive was established by Joshua Kushner, the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
JP Morgan was also confirmed by Fifa to be working alongside it on FFE, having previously acted as financial backers for the doomed European Super League project in 2021.
Thursday’s judgment in Manhattan means Fifa’s motion to intervene has been rejected, although it is understood another court decision is required to grant the release of documents.
Judge Jeannette Vargas wrote: "The court has already decided that the US Fifa parties have no direct, substantial and legally protectable interest in the subject matter of this application.
"In light of this determination, the court exercises its discretion to decline leave to intervene."
Fifa and Uefa have been approached for comment.
The ruling comes ahead of March’s Fifa election, with Infantino set to run as he seeks a fourth term as president.
Kozo Tashima, the honorary president of the Japanese Football Association (JFA), announced last week that he would run for the presidency.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is also considering putting himself forward as a candidate to challenge Infantino.
Wenger is not currently viewed as the preferred candidate for Uefa, with other individuals also under evaluation. It is understood he remains undecided over whether to launch a bid.
Wenger’s reputation within football and intimate knowledge of the Fifa administration would render him a formidable challenger to Infantino should he choose to stand, with the Frenchman having served as Fifa’s chief of global football development since 2019.
