UEFA preps criminal complaint against FIFA’s Infantino over World Cup sell-off deal

MONACO — The governing body for soccer in Europe is preparing a criminal complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Swiss courts for possible financial mismanagement over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, said Thursday it filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund, Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. UEFA also filed a request in a southern Florida district for authorization of discovery “in a foreign proceeding” against FIFA itself, which has offices in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables. The document suggests the $4.2 billion figure could be a “fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit.” Infantino dropped the sell-off plan on Aug. 1 after a furious backlash by global soccer leaders, including UEFA.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open NBC News ↗