UEFA Initiates Legal Action Against FIFA and Joshua Kushner Over World Cup Privatization Plans

UEFA has filed a discovery application in three U.S. court districts against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Thrive Capital, and former Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei concerning a controversial plan to privatize the World Cup. This action follows FIFA's proposal to sell shares in the World Cup, which was quickly abandoned after facing significant backlash.

The application was submitted in the Southern District of New York, where UEFA seeks to gather information from Thrive Capital and its founder, Joshua Kushner, who was the lead investor in the now-scrapped plans. UEFA is considering a criminal proceeding against Infantino for alleged mismanagement under Swiss law, although no lawsuits have been filed yet.

UEFA criticized the financial aspects of the proposal, arguing that the estimated enterprise value was significantly undervalued. The organization also highlighted that the process lacked transparency and did not adhere to proper governance procedures. Despite the withdrawal of the privatization plan, Infantino's leadership has come under scrutiny, with several member associations revoking their support ahead of his re-election campaign.