UEFA is considering legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over alleged “criminal mismanagement” linked to his now-shelved plan to introduce private financing into the World Cup.
The development came on Thursday as UEFA separately announced the provisional suspension of its threat to withdraw European teams from FIFA competitions.
UEFA said its member associations agreed in Monaco to suspend, on a provisional basis, the withdrawal of European teams from FIFA competitions in the coming season.
The European football governing body, however, warned that the decision would remain under constant review and could be reconsidered if circumstances required.
The move could ease pressure on Infantino, who has faced growing criticism over the proposed financing plan and calls from UEFA for him to resign.
However, the prospect of legal action could further intensify the dispute between the two football governing bodies.
According to a legal document seen by AFP, UEFA is actively considering legal action arising from and connected to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
The document, which is expected to be filed in a court in Florida, United States, seeks permission to gather evidence for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland, where both UEFA and FIFA are based.
UEFA said it was preparing to bring criminal claims against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials and advisers for alleged criminal mismanagement under Article 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code.
The European body is seeking access to documents relating to the development of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
Among the documents UEFA wants to examine are records connected to a meeting held at a New York City hotel on the eve of last month’s World Cup final, where several senior FIFA directors were reportedly briefed on the proposal.
According to The New York Times, two of the five directors present at the meeting refused to approve the plan. One of them, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, has since left the organisation.
UEFA said the evidence it seeks would enable it to determine whether Infantino’s actions amounted to criminal mismanagement under Swiss law.
The dispute has also complicated Infantino’s hopes of securing a fourth and final term as FIFA president in March.
Although UEFA has emerged as one of his strongest critics, the opposition to Infantino’s proposed financing plan has also received support from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is widely regarded as a potential challenger to Infantino, while UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has ruled himself out of the race.
The three confederations have continued to pressure Infantino and earlier this month issued a joint letter criticising what they described as a breakdown of trust and accountability in FIFA leadership.
Infantino, however, continues to enjoy support from several football confederations and countries, including Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup. The Confederation of African Football and South American football governing body CONMEBOL have also backed him.
Despite suspending its boycott threat, UEFA maintained its opposition to Infantino’s leadership.
“FIFA must once again be governed as an institution serving football – not operate as an instrument of individual power,” UEFA said.