UEFA threatens FIFA president Gianni Infantino with legal action over failed World Cup sell-off plan

UEFA has threatened Gianni Infantino with legal action as the fallout continues over FIFA's failed World Cup sell-off plan.

It was revealed on Tuesday (July 28) that FIFA and Gianni Infantino were planning to sell minority stakes of major tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups, to private investors.

Infantino, who has been FIFA president since 2016, was reportedly aiming to raise over $20 billion through the private investment route.

Thrive Capital, an American venture capital firm owned by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, was expected to lead a proposed investor group. However, the announcement attracted widespread criticism.

In fact, after UEFA's 55 member associations held an emergency meeting on Thursday (July 30), it was subsequently announced that they would all boycott the World Cup if Infantino's plans went ahead.

On Friday, senior FIFA officials made their opposition clear, with Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigning and making clear that he “cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup”.

Then, in the early hours of Saturday morning (August 1), FIFA confirmed they would not go ahead with Infantino's proposed plans.

READ MORE: FIFA scrap controversial World Cup sell-off as Gianni Infantino issues statement

UEFA sent letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressing situation

Now, it has emerged that UEFA has threatened Gianni Infantino and Joshua Kushner with legal action over the World Cup sell-off plan.

A letter sent to Infantino on Friday, as first seen by the Telegraph, said: “UEFA hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters as further described below.

“You and FIFA are required to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or FIFA’s possession, custody, or control.

“These obligations arise independently of any internal retention policy you or your organisation maintain and supersede any routine document destruction or deletion policies that would otherwise apply.

“UEFA – as well as other confederations, FIFA member associations and football stakeholders – has strongly condemned the FFE plan in the strongest terms as fundamentally incompatible with the proper governance of football.

“Given that proceedings are reasonably anticipated, you are obliged to preserve all relevant materials with immediate effect.”

Infantino is under huge pressure. Image credit: Getty

The governing body also warned Infantino not to destroy any material relating to the World Cup sell-off plan.

The latter added: “UEFA puts you on formal notice that any destruction, deletion, alteration, concealment, or loss of relevant materials following receipt of this notice – or following any earlier date on which you were, or reasonably should have been, aware that proceedings were anticipated – may constitute spoliation of evidence.

“UEFA reserves all rights to seek appropriate remedies in the proceedings for any such destruction or loss, including applications for adverse inference orders, sanctions, and costs against the responsible party or parties.”

It concluded: “UEFA requests that you acknowledge receipt of this notice in writing within five (5) business days of the date hereof, and confirm in that acknowledgment: (i) that you have received and understood this notice; (ii) that you have taken immediate steps to preserve relevant materials as required; (iii) the identity of the officer or individual responsible for overseeing compliance with this notice within your organization; (iv) whether you are aware of any relevant materials that have already been destroyed or deleted, in which case full particulars should be provided.”