Uefa pursuing criminal legal action against Infantino and Fifa

What the report says

Uefa has launched criminal legal proceedings in Switzerland against Fifa and its president, Gianni Infantino, over a now-abandoned proposal to place commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions into a new private-investment vehicle. The claim was reported by BBC Sport, which said it had seen documents showing Uefa has asked for access to evidence and records for use in the case.

According to the material cited by BBC Sport, Uefa’s application says the plan was announced by Infantino without consulting the Fifa Council, the confederations, or Fifa’s member associations. The document also alleges the proposal had been developed in secret over an extended period before being revealed publicly.

The reported action adds to scrutiny around Fifa’s governance and decision-making, particularly because the World Cup is one of the most valuable properties in global sport. While the plan has now been scrapped, the dispute suggests continuing tension between European football’s governing body and Fifa over control of major commercial assets.

BBC Sport said the case is being pursued in Switzerland and that more details may follow. The broader context is that Fifa has long faced criticism over transparency and commercial strategy, though the specific legal claims here are those described in the documents reviewed by BBC Sport.