Infantino, cornered: UEFA prepares a criminal complaint for the World Cup sale

BarcelonaUEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, according to the AP agency. For days, the body that controls European football had been studying the possibility of bringing Infantino before the Swiss courts, accusing him of financial mismanagement after proposing to privatize the Football World Cup by bringing in private investors close to Donald Trump. Infantino's surprising proposal arrived a few days after the end of the World Cup, when the English press reported his plans when they had not yet been presented to the FIFA assembly. Infantino saw European football, represented by UEFA, lead the opposition to this proposal with the support of African football (CAF) and CONCACAF (Caribbean, North America, and Central America). South American football and a large part of Asian football have supported Infantino, who had to withdraw from the project.

But UEFA is not satisfied. And it wants to bring down the Swiss leader. Thus, this Thursday it would have presented papers before a Manhattan court to request possible evidence from the New York investment fund Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law. Thrive and Kushner were to be the main investors and intended to pay FIFA $4.2 billion for a 20% stake in a subsidiary that would manage the football governing body's business events, including the World Cup.

Possible fraud to make money

"UEFA and its advisors are considering initiating criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials for unfair criminal management under Article 158 of the Swiss Penal Code," UEFA's lawyers said in a 56-page document seen by The Associated Press. The document suggests that the figure of $4.2 billion could be a "fraudulently out-of-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit."

Infantino's management has received a lot of criticism in recent months, especially during the last World Cup, when he allowed political interference from the Trump administration in sporting matters, which complicated the Iranian team's travel or pressured to ensure that American Balogun could play in the round of 16 despite being sent off. Suspicions of possible deals for the benefit of Trump and his entourage, to whom FIFA would have rented spaces that were not to be used, led to the privatization proposal, which received more criticism than support.

The 2027 elections, key

UEFA, in fact, is looking for an alternative candidate to oust Gianni Infantino from running for the FIFA presidency in next year's elections. One of the names being mentioned is the current president of CONCACAF, the Canadian Victor Montagliani. The deadline for submitting candidacies for the FIFA presidential elections, which will be held at the organization's congress in Rabat, is November 19. Two days ago, the president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, confirmed that he would not be a candidate against Infantino.