The clash between FIFA and UEFA has taken another turn, as football’s world body has accused UEFA of a “smear campaign” against president Gianni Infantino and FIFA executives.

At the heart of the conflict is the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, through which FIFA had planned to sell 20 percent of a new commercial company to private investors.

UEFA had asked a court in the US to access FIFA documents as part of preparations for possible legal claims in Switzerland. The European body has accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” and claimed that the project was based on an unfair valuation of FIFA’s assets.

FIFA has disputed these allegations, arguing that the FFE was only a proposal and that its implementation would require the approval of relevant bodies and the support of member federations.

In its legal documents, FIFA accuses UEFA of, rather than participating in the institutional process, launched a “smear campaign” against her and Infantino.

FIFA also claims that UEFA has an economic motive to oppose the project, as the financial strengthening of smaller federations would increase competition in world football and reduce the influence of European football.

UEFA, meanwhile, is also seeking documents from American investor Joshua Kushner and his company Thrive Eternal, which was planned to be the main investor in project.

The deal called for an investment of $4.2 billion for 20 percent of FIFA’s new commercial company, but the project was abandoned just days after it went public in July.

Kushner later expressed regret for getting involved in the project, admitting that he had not realized how complicated the political dynamics of world soccer would be.

UEFA also claims that World Cup-related assets were valued at around 15 billion pounds, without an open and competitive process or an independent assessment, writes Telegrafi.

The clash between the two institutions has already turned into an open legal battle and could have important consequences for the direction of world football and the future of Infantino’s presidency.

Source: prizrenpost