FIFA accuses UEFA of ‘harassing’ Infantino in court filing

The World Cup governing body FIFA has accused UEFA of harassing Gianni Infantino and trying to influence the presidential election in a recent court filing lodged in Florida.

The court filing is seeking to block UEFA’s request for all the evidence related to the attempt to sell World Cup shares to private investors in a controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.

The request comes as UEFA is demanding records on the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise program, threatening a criminal mismanagement case against FIFA chief Gianni Infantino over allegations he sold tournament rights too cheaply.

The claims also mentioned that UEFA wrongfully claimed that Infantino would stand to gain personally from the proposal which was later dropped after intense backlash.

FIFA's lawyers write in a 21-page filing, "UEFA's conduct demonstrates that its application was made in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment."

The legal submission also says, "Just before FIFA's election, UEFA filed this application [and three others] spreading misinformation regarding Mr Infantino. This court should reject any attempt to influence FIFA's presidential election based on these grounds."

FIFA’s filing also raised questions over UEFA legal action, coming at the time when the World Cup body is due to submit candidates to enter the FIFA presidential election contest next March in Morocco by November 18.

“This court should reject any attempt to influence FIFA’s presidential election based on these grounds,” FIFA lawyers wrote.

In this election, Infantino also plans to seek fourth and final tenure through 2031.

FIFA and UEFA have been at odds since Infantino’s efforts of pitching the FEE plan to sell the World Cup stakes to the private investors.