The Newshound

UEFA drops boycott threat but prepares criminal complaint against FIFA boss Infantino over World Cup sell-off

Gianni Infantino's scrapped plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup prompted UEFA's boycott, which threatened to derail the Under-20 Women's World Cup beginning September 5.
Gianni Infantino's scrapped plan to sell private stakes in the World Cup prompted UEFA's boycott, which threatened to derail the Under-20 Women's World Cup beginning September 5.

UEFA has withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after securing binding assurances that Gianni Infantino's scheme to sell World Cup commercial rights to private investors will not be revived — while simultaneously opening the door to a Swiss criminal case against the FIFA president. At a meeting in Monaco on Thursday, all 55 of European football's member nations voted unanimously to pursue every available legal avenue to remove Infantino, among them an application to a US federal court for documents and depositions from Josh Kushner and his firm Thrive Capital. UEFA is accusing Infantino of 'criminal mismanagement' under Swiss law, an offence that carries up to five years in prison where unlawful personal gain is established.

Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner — Trump's son-in-law — allegedly helped develop the secret $4.2bn plan for nearly a year before it was unveiled in July.

UEFA alleges Infantino bypassed FIFA's council, all 211 member associations and regional confederations in secretly structuring the deal, which would have handed investors a permanent stake in World Cup rights.

The U20 Women's World Cup, due to start in Poland on September 5, is now confirmed to go ahead with all qualified teams, after the original plan was formally scrapped on August 1.

MoreNY PostJosh Kushner may face subpoenas as UEFA weighs criminal case against FIFA boss Gianni InfantinoIrish IndependentUefa preparing criminal case against Gianni Infantino over bid to sell World Cup rights
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →