UEFA persuaded a U.S. court to reject FIFA's American subsidiaries' attempt to block evidence gathering for a Swiss criminal investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The case centers on Infantino's abandoned World Cup commercial-rights plan and proposed Club World Cup and Global Nations League, which included the sale of commercial rights worth billions. The plan collapsed in 2019 after opposition from European clubs and leagues. Swiss prosecutors are examining Infantino's meetings with a former Swiss attorney general and related dealings.
FIFA's American entities, including FIFA North America, sought to block UEFA's discovery request under 28 U.S.C. § 1782, which governs assistance to foreign tribunals. They argued the request was overly broad and burdensome. UEFA contended the intervention was a delay tactic designed to shield Infantino from scrutiny.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is expected to rule in late October. A decision favoring UEFA would compel FIFA's U.S. subsidiaries to produce documents and potentially accelerate the Swiss criminal investigation.
