UEFA has threatened legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding the preservation of evidence linked to the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal in the latest escalation of a dispute over football governance.
In a formal notice published by The Telegraph, European football’s governing body said it was actively considering legal action, arbitration and regulatory complaints over the proposal, while instructing FIFA to retain all documents and electronically stored information connected to the plan.
The warning comes despite FIFA withdrawing the initiative after fierce opposition from UEFA and other football confederations, who argued that the proposal was incompatible with the sport’s governance and commercial independence.
“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,” the letter reads.
UEFA welcomes FIFA’s withdrawal of plans to sell a stake in the World Cup
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 1, 2026
“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.”
The FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal would have created a commercial subsidiary responsible for managing FIFA’s biggest competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup. The governing body planned to allow minority private investment in the business, which was valued at approximately $20 billion and expected to raise up to $4.2 billion.
Infantino said the project would “turbocharge the development of the game globally” by generating additional funding for football development. However, the proposal prompted a strong backlash, with UEFA unanimously agreeing to boycott FIFA competitions while the plan remained under consideration. FIFA later withdrew the proposal, although UEFA said the episode had undermined confidence in both the organisation and its president.
UEFA also warned FIFA that any destruction, deletion or alteration of evidence could carry legal consequences as potential proceedings are anticipated.
The letter states: “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 (as defined below) with immediate effect.
“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.”
According to The Telegraph, Infantino is facing growing pressure to step down, with UEFA calling for new leadership at FIFA. The report added that CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has emerged as a potential successor should a leadership contest take place.
The report also said UEFA had previously presented Infantino with the option of resigning or facing a vote of no confidence, arguing that support from confederations opposed to the proposal could be enough to remove him from office.
UEFA has given Infantino five business days to acknowledge receipt of the notice and confirm that all relevant records have been preserved.
“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.”
FIFA has yet to respond publicly to UEFA’s latest notice, with Infantino now facing a five-day deadline to confirm that all relevant records have been preserved.
