UEFA files lawsuit in New York seeking FIFA’s World Cup monetization details

UEFA said it is pursuing a criminal case against FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Switzerland over his failed plan to monetize the World Cup and has filed a related lawsuit in New York. The lawsuit seeks subpoenas from Thrive Capital and its founder, Joshua Kushner, about their role in developing the strategy. FIFA and Thrive Capital did not respond to requests for comment. FIFA unveiled the plan last month to raise as much as $4.2 billion from external investors and create a new entity valued at $20 billion to hold media and commercial rights. UEFA alleged in the lawsuit that the proposal would have allowed Infantino and a small group around him to acquire a permanent stake in FIFA’s most valuable assets, rather than simply expanding the organization’s commercial potential. Infantino withdrew the plan after criticism from UEFA and others in football, including threats of boycotts of future FIFA tournaments. If UEFA files a criminal complaint in Switzerland, a local prosecutor would decide whether to open an investigation. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.