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Fifa alleges Uefa misinformation campaign in US court dispute over election

World football's governing body rejects criminal mismanagement claims and accuses European officials of trying to disrupt the presidential vote.

The short version

  • Fifa filed court papers in the United States accusing Uefa of conducting a misinformation campaign in bad faith to influence its upcoming presidential election.[BBC News · Al Jazeera]
  • The dispute follows Uefa legal filings seeking document disclosure, in which Uefa accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of criminal mismanagement regarding the shelved Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme and warned of a potential Swiss criminal complaint.[BBC News]
  • Fifa asserted that Uefa's claims are false, misleading, and without merit.[BBC News]
  • Infantino plans to pursue a fourth term in March 2027, leaving opponents until November 18 to present a competing candidate.[BBC News]

Key facts

  • Fifa submitted US court documents accusing Uefa of pursuing a misinformation campaign in bad faith to influence its presidential election.[BBC News · Al Jazeera]
  • Uefa previously sought court-ordered document disclosure in the US and indicated it may submit a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Gianni Infantino.[BBC News · Al Jazeera]
  • Uefa alleged Infantino engaged in criminal mismanagement over a valuation related to the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme.[BBC News]
  • Fifa maintained that Uefa's court filing contains false or misleading assertions about the organization and its president.[BBC News]
  • Infantino is running for a fourth term in March 2027, with rival candidacies due by November 18.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether Uefa will proceed with formal criminal charges against Infantino in Switzerland remains unconfirmed.[BBC News]
  • It is not yet known whether opposing confederations will register an alternative presidential challenger before the November 18 deadline.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.